Col de la Plagne du Mont

Overview

Col de la Plagne du Mont is a 9.5 km Category 1 ascent that means business from the moment the road tilts up. Starting at 818 m and topping out at 1544 m, it delivers a net elevation gain of 726 m at an average gradient of 7.67%. That average alone marks it as a serious effort, but the climb hides a sting: a maximum pitch of 23.95% that turns a steady tempo grind into a survival contest. With a total ascent of 691 m recorded over its length, this is a sustained, front-loaded challenge that rewards riders who respect the numbers and punishes those who don't.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is the 7.67% average, but averages lie on a climb like this. The gap between that average and the 23.95% maximum — a spread of 16.28 percentage points — tells you the road is uneven. Expect long stretches that sit near or just above the mean, broken by sharp ramps that spike well into the teens and, at their worst, brush 23.95%. Across 9.5 km, that pattern means you rarely get true recovery; the "easier" sections still hover around a gradient most riders would call hard on any other day. Reading the road ahead matters here: save something for the ramps rather than burning it on the flatter-feeling middle.

Pacing Notes

Pace this climb off your sustainable power, not your ego. A 9.5 km effort at 7.67% will take most riders well beyond 30 minutes, which puts it squarely in FTP territory — hold too far above threshold early and the 23.95% ramps will find you out. Aim to ride the sustained sections just under threshold, then accept a brief surge above it on the steepest pitches, letting your effort settle again on the far side. If you're unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator first so your target watts reflect reality rather than hope. The riders who summit strongest are the ones who leave a little in reserve for the back half.

Gearing

Gear for the ramps, not the average. With a 23.95% maximum on a Category 1 climb, most riders will want a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 is the sensible baseline for strong climbers and gives you a fighting cadence on the sustained 7.67% sections. But given how steep this climb gets, a 34×34 is the smarter insurance — that extra sprocket keeps your legs turning over on the worst pitches instead of grinding to a near-standstill. If your bike accepts it, err toward the easier ratio; you can always ride a hard gear on a spinny setup, but you can't conjure gears you don't have when the road hits 23.95%.

Summary

Col de la Plagne du Mont is a proper test: not the longest climb you'll ride, but one where the sustained 7.67% average and the brutal 23.95% max combine to make 9.5 km feel considerably longer. Pace it off threshold, gear generously, and it becomes a rewarding day out.

Length: 9.5 km
Average gradient: 7.67%
Max gradient: 23.95%
Start: 818 m
Summit: 1544 m
Net gain: 726 m
Total ascent: 691 m
Category: 1