col de la Croix de Bauzon

Overview

The Col de la Croix de Bauzon is a Category 1 climb in France that covers 13.1 km from its base at 457 m to the summit at 1,314 m. The net elevation gain comes to 857 m, while total ascent logged over the route reaches 1,388 m — a meaningful difference that signals the road is not a simple straight ramp. There are undulations, short recoveries, and sections that will reset your legs briefly before the gradient reasserts itself.

The average gradient of 6.53% is honest Category 1 territory: never casual, never relenting for long. What makes this climb demand respect is the recorded maximum gradient of 52.68%. That figure is extreme — steeper than almost anything a road bike is designed to comfortably handle — and almost certainly represents a short, sharp ramp rather than a sustained wall. Treat it as a warning. There is at least one section on this road that will force even well-prepared riders to either drop to their lowest gear immediately or, on a compact chainset without adequate range, come to a near stop.

How the Climb Rides

The gap between the average gradient (6.53%) and total ascent (1,388 m) versus net gain (857 m) confirms a route that moves through the terrain rather than simply pointing upward. Expect the road to dip, flatten, and pitch multiple times across the 13.1 km. This creates a climb that punishes riders who try to lock into a single steady effort and forget to respond to the road.

The extreme maximum gradient means at least one section demands full attention. When it arrives, a rider already deep in their FTP ceiling will have almost no margin. Those who have gone out too hard in the opening kilometers will find that ramp genuinely unrideable at pace.

Pacing Notes

• Start conservatively. With 13.1 km and over 850 m of climbing ahead, the natural tendency to push on early flat or gentle sections is a trap.
• Treat the undulations as partial recovery, not a signal to accelerate. The total ascent figure of 1,388 m versus 857 m net means the accumulated climbing is substantially higher than the headline gain. Legs will feel this by the upper half.
• Identify the steep ramp early. Reconnoitering the route or studying the elevation profile before you ride is not optional on a climb with a 52.68% maximum. Knowing where it sits lets you approach it with momentum and a gear already selected.
• Power targets: Riders without a power meter should use perceived exertion and breathing rate as primary signals rather than speed, which becomes meaningless on ramps of that steepness. Use the FTP estimator to set realistic watts-per-kilogram targets before the day.

Gearing

A compact chainset (50/34) paired with at least an 11-32 cassette is a practical minimum. Given the maximum gradient logged here, a 34×34 or even a 1x drivetrain with a wide-range cassette is not overcautious — it is sensible. Riders on standard 53/39 setups should understand they may be forced to stand and grind or lose momentum entirely on the steepest pitch.

If you are comparing this climb against other Category 1 ascents in the region, see the climbs index for context on where Croix de Bauzon sits relative to similar length-and-gradient combinations.

Summary

The Col de la Croix de Bauzon rewards climbers who pace early, stay seated on the steep ramp, and account for the cumulative nature of a route that gives back briefly before taking again. The numbers are not forgiving of overconfidence.