Col de la Ciaure

Overview

The Col de la Ciaure is a genuine hors catégorie test: 25.5 km of continuous climbing that lifts you from 639 m at its base to a summit of 2211 m. That is 1572 m of net elevation gain, over a road that averages 6.16% but ramps to a leg-snapping 14.02% at its steepest. The total ascent of 1547 m sits just below the net figure, which tells you this is an honest, almost relentlessly upward climb — there is very little descending to recover on. At HC, the hardest rung above categories 1, 2, 3 and 4, the Ciaure demands respect from the first kilometre.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.16% average across 25.5 km disguises real variety. Because total ascent (1547 m) falls slightly short of the net gain (1572 m), the road climbs almost the entire way with only trivial flat or downhill sections. Expect long stretches close to the average, punctuated by steeper ramps that build toward the 14.02% maximum. The gap between a moderate average and a severe max is where this climb hurts: settle into a rhythm on the 6% grades, and the sharp pitches will still spike your effort well above threshold. With the summit at 2211 m, thinning air late on compounds every gradient change, so the final kilometres feel harder than the raw percentages suggest.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold the sustained 6.16% sections a touch below threshold — you have 25.5 km and 1572 m to give away, and blowing up in the first third leaves a very long walk of a ride to 2211 m. Save headroom for the ramps toward 14.02%, where you will inevitably surge above FTP; let those be short, controlled spikes rather than sustained overreaches. If you are unsure of your number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan your pacing. As a rule, ride the first half like you have to climb it twice, because at altitude the second half will feel like it.

Gearing

Do not under-gear an HC climb. With 25.5 km at 6.16% and pitches to 14.02% waiting near the top when your legs are already deep into 1572 m of climbing, low ratios protect your knees and your pacing. A 34×32 is the sensible baseline for strong climbers who can spin a steady cadence and hold power on the steep ramps. But if you are riding this at endurance pace, carrying luggage, or simply want to keep your cadence high all the way to 2211 m, go to a 34×34 — the extra range turns the 14.02% sections from a grind into a manageable spin. There is no prize for suffering on the wrong cassette.

Summary

The Col de la Ciaure is a summit worth earning: 25.5 km of near-continuous ascent, a 6.16% average that hides teeth up to 14.02%, and a payoff at 2211 m after 1572 m of net gain. Pace it against your FTP, gear low, and treat the whole thing as one long, patient effort.

Length: 25.5 km
Average gradient: 6.16%
Max gradient: 14.02%
Start: 639 m
Summit: 2211 m
Net gain: 1572 m
Total ascent: 1547 m
Category: HC