Col de Folière

Overview

The Col de Folière is a hors catégorie climb, the hardest rung on the classification ladder above categories 1 through 4. Over 18.5 km it drags you from a start elevation of 411 m to a summit at 1906 m — a net elevation gain of 1495 m. The average gradient sits at a merciless 8.06%, a figure that alone marks this as an all-day effort rather than a punchy afternoon test. That average is not soft: sustaining above 8% for more than eighteen kilometres is what separates a genuine HC ascent from lesser climbs that borrow the numbers on paper but relent in reality.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 8.06% only tells part of the story. With a max gradient of 33.33%, Folière hides at least one wall that turns pedalling into survival. Note that the total ascent of 1616 m exceeds the net gain of 1495 m by 121 m — meaning the road is not monotonically upward. There are false flats or short descents where you claw back elevation before losing it again, which is why the climb "feels" longer than a clean 1495 m haul. Expect the gradient to oscillate around its 8.06% mean, punching well above it on the steepest pitches and easing just enough between them to keep you honest but never truly resting.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The steady 8.06% average rewards riders who settle into a sustainable rhythm early and refuse to chase the ramps. Anchor your effort to your FTP: for a sustained 18.5 km push, most riders target a percentage of FTP they can hold for well over an hour without blowing up on the 33.33% wall late in the climb. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your pacing. Bank effort conservatively through the first third, because the 121 m of extra ascent means recovery sections are shorter than the elevation profile suggests.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With an 8.06% average stretched over 18.5 km and spikes to 33.33%, a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the minimum sensible setup. A 34×32 will get most fit riders to the 1906 m summit, but on the steepest pitches even that can feel tall when your legs are 1495 m deep into the climb. If you have any doubt about your climbing legs or want a cadence buffer for the walls, fit a 34×34 — the extra rescue gear costs nothing on the flatter stretches and buys you real insurance when the road tilts toward its maximum.

Summary

Col de Folière is a proper hors catégorie giant: long, relentlessly steep, and topped by a summit high enough to change the air you breathe. Pace it by threshold, gear it generously, and respect the 121 m of hidden re-climbing baked into the total ascent.

Length: 18.5 km
Average gradient: 8.06%
Max gradient: 33.33%
Start: 411 m
Summit: 1906 m
Net gain: 1495 m
Total ascent: 1616 m
Category: HC