Col de la Croix de Mounis

Overview

Col de la Croix de Mounis is a Category 2 climb in France, rising 7.4 km from a base at 333 m to a summit at 809 m. On paper that gives a net elevation gain of 476 m at an average gradient of 6.4% — a mid-length ascent that sits firmly in serious-effort territory without being a full mountain pass.

The number that reshapes the picture is total ascent. While you only gain 476 m net between start and summit, the road actually climbs 643 m in total. That 167 m difference means the profile undulates: there are descents and false flats along the way that you have to re-climb. Your legs pay for every one of those extra metres, so the climb costs more than the net figure suggests, and the average gradient understates the real work.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.4% average is a smooth-sounding figure, but it is a blend of flatter recovery stretches and much steeper pitches — the road does not hold one grade. Because 167 m of the total ascent comes from re-climbing lost ground, expect the effort to arrive in bursts rather than as a steady drag.

• Flatter and recovery sections, including short descents and false flats, that dilute the average
• Repeated short climbs where you regain the elevation you just gave away
• A steepest ramp hitting 21.15% — well above the average and enough to force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing even speed will wreck you: holding the same km/h up a 21% wall demands a power spike you cannot repeat. Aim instead for even effort, pacing to your sustainable power output and letting your speed rise on the flatter sections and drop on the steep ramps. Push a little over threshold on the sharpest pitches, then genuinely recover on the descents and false flats rather than hammering them. If you do not know your current numbers, run the FTP estimator before the ride so your target is real, not guessed.

Gearing

The 21.15% maximum is the number that should govern your setup, not the 6.4% average. A single steep ramp at that grade can stall you on a road-standard cassette. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset and a wide-range cassette — something like 34×32 or 34×34 — so you keep a spinnable cadence when the gradient bites. Check your chainset and cassette before you leave, because you cannot fix undergearing on the climb itself.

Summary

• Length: 7.4 km
• Average gradient: 6.4%
• Maximum gradient: 21.15%
• Net elevation gain: 476 m
• Total ascent: 643 m
• Category: 2

Treat Col de la Croix de Mounis as an undulating Category 2 effort: pace to power, gear for the 21.15% ramp, and respect the 167 m of extra climbing hidden in the profile.