Col de la Croix Haute

Overview

The Col de la Croix Haute is a Category 2 climb in France that covers 8.6 km from base to summit, rising 657 metres of total ascent. Starting at 732 m elevation, it tops out at 1,175 m. The average gradient of 5.15% reads comfortably on paper — but a maximum gradient of 16.13% tells a different story. This is a climb with real teeth, and riders who treat it as a steady tempo effort will be caught out.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an average of 5.15% spread across 8.6 km, Col de la Croix Haute sits in a middle band — not a prolonged grind, not a short punchy ascent. The gap between average and maximum gradient (nearly 11 percentage points) signals significant variation across the route. Expect rolling sections where the road eases and lets you breathe, interspersed with ramps that briefly spike well beyond anything the average figure suggests.

The 16.13% maximum is short by definition — a gradient that steep sustained over any meaningful distance would push the overall average far higher than 5.15%. That means the hardest ramp or ramps are localized. Treat them as high-intensity interruptions within an otherwise manageable climb rather than a sustained wall.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient is so variable, even pacing by feel or by FTP percentage alone is unreliable here. Power-based riders should plan for a negative split approach: keep output conservative in the first half to preserve capacity for the steep ramp sections, wherever they appear.

• Opening kilometres: Resist the pull of the moderate average. The climb's low average gradient makes it easy to overcook early pace. Stay well within your threshold for the first third.
• Steep ramp(s): When the gradient hits double digits and approaches the 16% ceiling, shift focus from watt targets to cadence management. Grinding a big gear through a 16% pitch accelerates muscular fatigue rapidly.
• After the ramps: The road will ease again. Use those sections to recover before the next pitch or the final push to the 1,175 m summit.

Gearing

For most riders, a compact chainset (50/34 or equivalent) paired with at least an 11-32 cassette is appropriate. The 16.13% maximum gradient is steep enough that anyone without a genuinely efficient climbing gear will be forced out of the saddle and burning matches they may not have. If you are riding loaded or are heavier than average, consider a 34/34 or even a sub-compact setup. Use the FTP estimator to check whether your current watts per kilogram will let you stay seated and spin efficiently through the sharpest ramps.

Summary

Col de la Croix Haute is a well-rounded Category 2 test: long enough at 8.6 km to require genuine pacing discipline, and sharp enough at 16.13% maximum to demand low gearing and explosive short-effort capacity. The 5.15% average flatters the climb. Respect the spikes, protect your legs in the early kilometres, and you will summit with something left.