Col de Floray

Overview

Col de Floray is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest rung on the cycling ladder above categories 1 through 4 — and its numbers explain why. Over just 12 km the road drags you from a start elevation of 390 m to a summit at 2014 m, a net elevation gain of 1624 m. That works out to an average gradient of 13.53%, a figure that would be brutal for a single kilometre, let alone twelve of them back to back. With a max gradient of 27.19% waiting somewhere in the mix, Floray is less a climb you ride and more one you survive.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Floray is relentlessness. A 13.53% average across 12 km means there is essentially nowhere to recover — the pitch that most climbs reserve for a single wall here becomes the baseline you sit on for the entire ascent. The 1624 m of net gain arrives in an almost straight line of effort.

Notice too that the total ascent, 1561 m, is slightly less than the net gain of 1624 m. That tells you the road climbs almost monotonically, with no meaningful descents or flat reprieves to break the rhythm. Everything you gain, you keep. The sting comes wherever the surface tilts toward its 27.19% maximum — a gradient roughly double the average, steep enough to force you out of the saddle and onto the very edge of traction.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is survival. There is no drafting benefit and no coasting, so the effort is almost purely a function of your power-to-weight and your ability to hold it for the duration. Ride the first kilometres well within yourself: the 13.53% average leaves zero margin to recover a blown effort, and going into the red early on Floray means walking.

Your FTP is the number that matters most here. Because the gradient is so unforgiving, most riders will spend long stretches at or above threshold simply to keep the wheels turning up the steepest ramps. Know your ceiling before you start, and if you are unsure, run the numbers through the FTP estimator so you can set a target you can actually sustain from 390 m all the way to 2014 m.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. A 13.53% average with pitches to 27.19% will punish a road-standard setup. At minimum, aim for a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette: a 34×32 is the realistic floor for strong climbers, and even they will be grateful for it on the steepest sections. For most riders, a 34×34 — or anything easier — is the smarter choice, giving you the cadence headroom to spin rather than grind through 1624 m of climbing. On Floray, the right gear is the difference between riding and hiking.

Summary

Col de Floray is an HC climb that earns its category with sheer, sustained steepness: 12 km averaging 13.53%, spiking to 27.19%, hauling you 1624 m upward to a 2014 m summit. Come with low gears, a well-judged effort, and respect.

Length: 12 km
Average gradient: 13.53%
Max gradient: 27.19%
Start: 390 m
Summit: 2014 m
Net gain: 1624 m
Total ascent: 1561 m
Category: HC