Col de la Brousse

Overview

Col de la Brousse is a Category 1 climb in France, running 11.8 km from base to summit. It starts at 129 m and tops out at 853 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 724 m at an average gradient of 6.13%. On paper that reads as a steady, mid-length effort — a climb long enough to matter, but with an average that sits well inside most trained riders' aerobic range.

The paper figure hides the real work. Total ascent over the climb is 999 m, well above the 724 m net gain. That 275 m gap tells you the road undulates: you climb, give some elevation back, then climb again. Every metre handed back on a descent has to be re-earned, so the pedalling load is heavier than the net gain alone suggests. Expect the effort to feel closer to a 999 m day than a 724 m one.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.13% average is a blend, not a description of any single kilometre. On an undulating profile like this, that number is pulled down by flatter and descending sections and pulled up by ramps that bite well beyond it. The standout is a maximum pitch of 25.19% — a wall that sits far above the average and demands a gear held in reserve.

• Flatter or recovery sections where you can spin, drink, and reset before the next rise.
• Repeated short climbs that follow the give-back descents — punchy efforts rather than one long grind.
• A steepest ramp touching 25.19%, steep enough to force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear.

Pacing Notes

On a smooth climb you can hold near-constant power and let speed drift. Here, the undulation makes even-speed pacing a trap: chasing a fixed speed up the steep ramps spikes your power far past threshold and burns matches you need later. Pace to power instead. Anchor your effort to a sustainable sustainable power output and let speed rise and fall with the grade — ease slightly on the false flats, avoid burying yourself on the 25.19% pitch. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go and set a target you can hold for the full 11.8 km.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your gearing, not the average. A 25.19% ramp will overwhelm a standard road setup. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a low enough gear to keep cadence up and your knees intact on the wall. Check your setup before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up the steepest pitch is not the time to find out.

Summary

• Length: 11.8 km
• Average gradient: 6.13%
• Maximum gradient: 25.19%
• Net elevation gain: 724 m
• Total ascent: 999 m
• Category: 1

Col de la Brousse rewards riders who respect the gap between its gentle average and its sharp reality. Pace to power, gear low, and treat the 999 m of total ascent as the real number — do that, and the 11.8 km will come to you.