Col de la Poreyrette

Overview

The Col de la Poreyrette is a Category 1 climb that asks for genuine respect. Over 14.4 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 431 m to a summit at 1477 m — a net elevation gain of 1046 m, with 1029 m of total ascent packed into the effort. The average gradient of 7.29% is unrelenting rather than explosive, but the maximum pitch of 18.5% guarantees at least one moment where the road stands up and dares you to stay seated. This is a long, sustained effort: think 40 minutes to well over an hour of continuous climbing, depending on your form and the day.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is an average, and averages lie by omission. A 7.29% mean across 14.4 km means most of the climb sits in the demanding-but-rhythmic band, yet the 18.5% maximum tells you steeper ramps punctuate that rhythm. Expect the climb to breathe: stretches where you can settle into a cadence, broken by pitches that spike well above the average and force a hard surge or a gear change. With 1046 m of net gain but only 1029 m of total ascent, the road climbs almost relentlessly upward — there is very little descending or false-flat recovery to bank on. What you gain, you keep.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The 1046 m of vertical over 14.4 km rewards riders who meter their effort from the base rather than chasing the early ramps. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: sitting just under threshold for a sustained Category 1 effort is far more repeatable than surging and blowing up on the 18.5% sections. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle the col so you can pick a target power you can actually hold to the summit. When the gradient spikes, let cadence drop briefly rather than forcing power into the red — then recover on the shallower pitches back toward that 7.29% baseline.

Gearing

For a 14.4 km climb averaging 7.29% with ramps to 18.5%, gear for the steep bits, not the average. A compact 34-tooth inner ring is the sensible starting point. Pair it with at least a 34×32 setup to keep a workable cadence through the sustained middle. If you're carrying fatigue, climbing in the heat, or simply prefer to spin, a 34×34 buys precious extra range for those 18.5% pitches where torque, not speed, is the limiting factor. Erring toward the easier ratio costs you almost nothing and preserves your legs for the full 1046 m of gain.

Summary

The Col de la Poreyrette is a proper Category 1 test: 14.4 km of climbing at 7.29% average, sharp maximum pitches to 18.5%, and 1046 m of net elevation gain from base to summit. Pace it by threshold, gear it for the steep ramps, and it becomes a satisfying, rhythmic ascent rather than a survival exercise.

Length: 14.4 km
Average gradient: 7.29%
Max gradient: 18.5%
Start: 431 m
Summit: 1477 m
Net gain: 1046 m
Total ascent: 1029 m
Category: 1