Col de la Mesure

Overview

The Col de la Mesure is an hors catégorie climb that hides nothing. Over just 8.1 km it drags you from 1108 m at the base to a 2227 m summit — a net gain of 1119 m. Do the arithmetic and the number that jumps out is the average gradient: 13.76%. That is not a rolling alpine drag with a nasty ramp or two; it is a sustained wall. Very few paved climbs hold double-digit gradients for this long, and fewer still average close to fourteen percent across the whole ascent. The HC rating, the hardest category above 1, 2, 3, and 4, is not a formality here — it is a warning.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 13.76% average across 8.1 km, there is simply no room for the climb to relent for long. Any easier section has to be paid back by an even steeper one elsewhere, because the mean is anchored so high. Think of the whole 8.1 km as a single sustained effort rather than a sequence of distinct pitches. The total ascent recorded is 1024 m, slightly under the 1119 m net gain between base and summit — a reminder that the surface data smooths out the true relentlessness. Practically, you should expect the gradient to sit near or above its average for almost the entire climb, with the thin air toward the 2227 m summit sharpening every pedal stroke over the final kilometres.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is everything — go out too hard and the wall will break you long before the top. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a power ceiling you know you can sustain for the full duration, not just the first few minutes. Because the gradient barely eases, there are no recovery sections to bail you out, so ride slightly conservative early and let the summit come to you. If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator and set a realistic target before you start. Cadence will naturally fall on gradients near 13.76%; accept it, stay seated where you can to protect your legs, and stand only to relieve pressure rather than to attack.

Gearing

Do not under-gear the Col de la Mesure. At a 13.76% average over 8.1 km, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is the sensible floor for strong climbers, and most riders will be far happier with a 34×34. If your setup allows anything easier still, use it — spinning a low gear preserves your knees and your composure far better than grinding a ratio that is a touch too tall. On a climb where the gradient never truly backs off before the 2227 m summit, the extra sprockets are not a luxury; they are the difference between finishing strong and blowing up.

Summary

The Col de la Mesure is short, savage, and honest: 8.1 km, no hiding place, an HC badge fully deserved. Gear low, pace to your threshold, and respect the wall.

Length: 8.1 km
Average gradient: 13.76%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 1108 m
Summit: 2227 m
Net gain: 1119 m
Total ascent: 1024 m
Category: HC