Col de Fécon

Overview

Col de Fécon is one of those climbs that reads like a dare. Over 15.1 km it averages a punishing 9.34%, dragging you from a start elevation of 411 m all the way up to a 1823 m summit. That is 1412 m of net elevation gain — a wall of vertical that never really lets you settle. Rated HC (hors catégorie, the hardest classification above categories 1, 2, 3 and 4), Fécon earns its status not through length alone but through sustained, relentless steepness. There is no easing-in kilometre here; the average tells the whole story, and the average is brutal.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 9.34% average across 15.1 km means there is almost nowhere to recover. Averages this high are only possible when the gentle sections are rare and the steep sections are frequent, and Fécon delivers exactly that. The headline threat is the 32.74% max gradient — a pitch steep enough to stall momentum entirely if you hit it in the wrong gear. Note the difference between the 1412 m net gain and the 1373 m total ascent: with total ascent slightly below net gain, the road climbs almost monotonically, with little to no descending along the way. Every metre you gain, you keep. That relentlessness is what makes the climb mentally as well as physically taxing.

Pacing Notes

Discipline wins on a climb like this. Pace it against your FTP rather than your ego — the 9.34% average will happily push you into the red within the first few kilometres if you let it. Aim to hold a steady effort you can sustain for the full 15.1 km, and treat the 32.74% max ramp as a surge to survive, not a place to attack. If you are unsure of your threshold number, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a target, then ride the whole climb a notch below what feels comfortable early. The 1412 m of climbing rewards patience; riders who go out hard here almost always pay for it in the final third.

Gearing

Do not undergear this climb. On a 32.74% max pitch at 411 m rising to 1823 m, you want the biggest cassette you can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low is the sensible floor for strong climbers, but most riders will be far happier with a 34×34, which gives a genuine one-to-one ratio and a cadence you can actually turn over on the steepest ramps. If your frame and derailleur allow an even larger sprocket, take it — spinning a small gear beats grinding to a halt on a 9.34% average with the max in reserve.

Summary

Col de Fécon is a full HC test: long, brutally steep, and unforgiving from bottom to top. Come with low gears, a pacing plan built around your threshold, and respect for a climb that averages 9.34% for 15.1 km.

Length: 15.1 km
Average gradient: 9.34%
Max gradient: 32.74%
Start: 411 m
Summit: 1823 m
Net gain: 1412 m
Total ascent: 1373 m
Category: HC