col de la Moutière

Col de la Moutière Climb Profile

Col de la Moutière is one of the more unforgiving HC climbs in the French Alps. At 8.2 km with an average gradient of 11.18%, it never lets you settle into a rhythm and forget what you're doing. Starting at 1,510 m and finishing at 2,425 m, the road gains 915 m net — with total ascent logged at 1,110 m, meaning there are enough undulations on the way up to inflate the work done beyond what the net figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 11.18% average over 8.2 km is already in the territory that punishes riders who go out too hard. The maximum gradient of 24.15% confirms this isn't a uniform grind — there are sections steep enough to bring even strong climbers close to walking pace if they've misjudged the opening kilometres.

Expect the climb to broadly follow this pattern:

• Lower slopes: The road climbs from 1,510 m and establishes its character quickly. With the average so high, there's no gentle warm-up phase. Treat the first kilometre as a calibration — find a sustainable pace before the gradient tightens.
• Middle section: This is where the 24.15% ramps most likely appear. Riders who burned matches early will be in trouble here. The total ascent figure (1,110 m) being meaningfully higher than the net gain (915 m) suggests rollers or false flats that reset the legs briefly before the gradient kicks again.
• Upper slopes: Approaching 2,425 m, altitude compounds the muscular load. Even fit riders will notice the air thinning if they've come up from lower valleys in the same day.

Pacing Strategy

An 11.18% average demands you ride to FTP discipline from the first pedal stroke. A common mistake on climbs this steep is starting at a power output that feels manageable for two or three minutes — then discovering it's unsustainable for 8 km.

Key pacing principles for Col de la Moutière:

• Target 90–95% of your FTP for the opening third. If you haven't benchmarked your current FTP, use the FTP estimator before attempting this climb at race pace.
• When you hit the steepest ramps (approaching the 24% sections), shift down rather than stand and power through. Standing burns disproportionate energy at altitude.
• Cadence: aim to keep it above 60 rpm even on the steepest pitches. Grinding a big gear at 45 rpm accelerates fatigue in the hip flexors and lower back on a climb this long.
• The undulations embedded in the 1,110 m total ascent figure give brief recovery windows. Use them: stay seated, reduce power slightly, let the legs clear lactate.

Gearing Notes

With a maximum of 24.15% and an average above 11%, a compact chainset (50/34) is the minimum sensible option. A 34-tooth chainring paired with a 32- or 34-tooth cassette rear sprocket will allow most riders to keep a workable cadence through the worst pitches. If you're running a standard double (53/39), you need to be confident in your climbing legs — or be prepared to suffer on the steepest corners.

For reference, Col de la Moutière sits in the same HC category as major climbs like Alpe d'Huez, but its double-digit average gradient makes it meaner on a per-kilometre basis than many of its more famous peers.