Col de la Croix

Overview

The Col de la Croix in the Vaud is a category 3 climb that looks gentle on paper and rides very differently in the legs. Across 8.2 km it averages 3.99%, lifting you from a start elevation of 455 m to a summit at 782 m. That is a net elevation gain of 327 m, but the total ascent comes in higher at 442 m — a difference of 115 m that tells you the road does not simply tilt up and hold. There are dips and false flats folded into the profile, and the moving average hides a max gradient of 18.61% that arrives with real teeth. Treat this as a rolling climb with one genuine wall rather than a steady drag.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 442 m of total ascent and the 327 m of net gain is the whole story here. Roughly 115 m of climbing gets given back and re-earned along the way, so the 3.99% average is diluted by descents and flatter recovery sections. That means the pitches that actually climb are steeper than the headline figure — and at least one ramp bites at 18.61%. Expect stretches well into double digits sandwiched between easier terrain. The climb rewards riders who can read the road: ease on the flatter links, then respect the wall when the gradient rears toward that 18.61% maximum.

Pacing Notes

Because the average of 3.99% undersells the hard sections, pacing by feel alone will burn matches on the steep ramps. Anchor your effort to your FTP instead. Ride the shallower first portion a touch below threshold, bank that reserve, and spend it on the pitch that spikes to 18.61%. On a climb this short — 8.2 km — you can afford to push closer to threshold on the walls without blowing up, provided you settle again on the false flats. If you do not know your threshold number yet, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the effort, then set target zones for the steep and shallow segments accordingly.

Gearing

For a category 3 climb topping out at 18.61%, gearing is about surviving the steep ramp rather than the 3.99% average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will handle most of the climb comfortably and keeps your cadence honest on the sustained sections. But when the road hits that 18.61% pitch, a 34×34 gives you the extra rescue gear to keep spinning rather than grinding to a standstill. If your bike allows it, fit the 34×34 — the 327 m of net gain is manageable, but the wall is where you will be grateful for the range.

Summary

Col de la Croix (Vaud) is a deceptive category 3 climb: a friendly 3.99% average wrapped around a brutal 18.61% ramp, with 442 m of total ascent for only 327 m of net gain. Pace to your threshold, gear for the wall, and enjoy the 8.2 km.

Length: 8.2 km
Average gradient: 3.99%
Max gradient: 18.61%
Start: 455 m
Summit: 782 m
Net gain: 327 m
Total ascent: 442 m
Category: 3