Col de la Forcla

Overview

The Col de la Forcla is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, and the numbers explain the rating in a hurry. Over just 6.2 km it averages a savage 13.68%, dragging you from a start elevation of 962 m to a summit of 1810 m. That is 848 m of net elevation gain packed into a road barely six kilometres long. Very few climbs sustain a double-digit average of this magnitude, and the Forcla does it without the reprieve of long flat kilometres to dilute the figure.

To put the scale in perspective: an average of 13.68% means that, on paper, every kilometre lifts you well over a hundred metres. The total ascent of 817 m across the effort tells the same story from another angle — there is simply nowhere to hide.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 13.68% average over 6.2 km, the defining characteristic of the Forcla is consistency of severity rather than a single spike. On a climb this steep and this short, the road never really eases; the average is so high that even the shallower moments would count as hard ramps on most other passes.

The gap between the net elevation gain of 848 m and the total ascent of 817 m is small, which tells you the profile is almost monotonically upward — there are no meaningful descents or false flats to break the rhythm. From 962 m to 1810 m, it is a near-continuous wall.

Pacing Notes

On a climb like this, pacing is really about damage limitation. Because the gradient rarely drops, you cannot bank on recovery sections, so hold an intensity you can defend from the very first metres. Riding it well means knowing your FTP and staying honest about it — go over your sustainable ceiling early on a 13.68% wall and the last kilometres will unravel fast.

If you are not sure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to this one. On the Forcla, the difference between a good day and a walk is often just a handful of watts held in check over 6.2 km.

Gearing

Do not underestimate what a 13.68% average demands. On gradients this relentless, most riders will want the easiest cassette they can fit. A compact chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline: a 34×32 is the minimum I would suggest for anyone hoping to stay seated and spin. If your legs or your setup allow, step up to a 34×34 for extra margin — over 848 m of climbing at this gradient, that one extra tooth buys real cadence and saves your knees.

For lighter or less-trained riders, going even lower than 34×34 is entirely defensible here. There is no shame in gearing; there is only whether you reach 1810 m still turning the pedals.

Summary

The Col de la Forcla is short, but short means nothing when the road tilts to a 13.68% average. Across 6.2 km it delivers 848 m of net gain and an HC rating that is fully earned. Come with easy gearing, a disciplined pace off your FTP, and respect for every one of those 817 m of ascent.

Length: 6.2 km
Average gradient: 13.68%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 962 m
Summit: 1810 m
Net gain: 848 m
Total ascent: 817 m
Category: HC