Col de Neuva

Overview

The Col de Neuva is a genuine hors-catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest classification the sport recognises before you get to the merely absurd. Over 15.7 km it drags you from a start elevation of 380 m up to a 1777 m summit, a net gain of 1397 m. The average gradient of 8.93% tells most of the story: this is not a climb with generous flat recovery. It is long enough to demand real pacing discipline and steep enough that mistakes early on will be paid back with interest near the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 8.93% average across 15.7 km is already brutal, but averages hide the sting. With a max gradient of 22.1%, there are pitches here more than double the mean, and those ramps are where the climb is won or lost. Note also the gap between the raw numbers: the net elevation gain is 1397 m while the total ascent is 1359 m. That 38 m difference means the road is not a perfectly monotonic drag — there are short reprieves and dips folded into the profile that briefly ease the slope before it rears up again. Expect the gradient to swing between sustained high-single-digit grinding and vicious steep kicks that spike toward that 22.1% ceiling.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, effort management matters more than raw power. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: on the sustained 8.93% sections, holding just under threshold keeps you sustainable across all 15.7 km, while the ramps toward 22.1% will force short over-threshold surges you simply have to absorb. Don't chase a fixed power number on the steep pitches — let cadence and torque spike, then settle again on the shallower ground. If you're unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you commit. Budget your matches for the back half; with 1397 m of climbing to complete, the summit at 1777 m is a long way from the 380 m start.

Gearing

Do not under-gear the Col de Neuva. With a max of 22.1% and an 8.93% average sustained for the better part of 15.7 km, most riders will want the widest range they can fit. A compact 34×32 is the sensible floor for strong climbers, but on the steepest ramps a 34×34 gives you the extra spin to keep cadence up rather than grinding to a stall. If your frame and derailleur allow it, going even lower is not weakness — it's the difference between riding the 22.1% pitches and walking them.

Summary

The Col de Neuva earns its HC label honestly: long, steep, and relentless, with ramps that bite well beyond the average. Respect the numbers, gear low, pace by feel and threshold, and the 1777 m summit is yours.

Length: 15.7 km
Average gradient: 8.93%
Max gradient: 22.1%
Start: 380 m
Summit: 1777 m
Net gain: 1397 m
Total ascent: 1359 m
Category: HC