Col de Parchet

Overview

The Col de Parchet is not a climb you ride into casually. Over just 8.3 km it averages a brutal 17.05% gradient, dragging you from a start elevation of 389 m all the way to a 1805 m summit. That is 1416 m of net elevation gain packed into a single, unrelenting effort, with a total ascent of 1392 m once the minor undulations are accounted for. Rated HC — hors catégorie, the hardest classification above categories 1 through 4 — Parchet earns every letter of that label. There is nowhere on this road that offers genuine recovery, and the sustained steepness places it among the most punishing ascents a rider can attempt.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 17.05% is already extreme, but averages hide the story. With a maximum gradient of 37.62%, this climb contains pitches that are barely rideable seated, walls that force you out of the saddle and over the bars just to keep the front wheel down. Do the arithmetic and the spread is stark: the max sits 20.57 percentage points above the average. That tells you the road is not a smooth, even grind — it lurches. Expect the shape to be a series of savage ramps stacked back to back, where a fleeting easing to "only" the mid-teens feels like relief. Across 8.3 km, gaining 1416 m of height, the climb never gives back what it takes.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is survival. The margin between a controlled effort and a blown one is razor-thin, so anchor your ride to your FTP. Because the gradient rarely dips, you cannot coast to recover the way you might on a shallower col — every meter of the 1416 m gain is earned under load. Ride the steepest ramps just below the point where your power spikes uncontrollably, and accept that even your "easy" sections will sit near threshold. If you are unsure of your numbers, run them through the FTP estimator before you commit to the lower slopes. Going out too hard on the first kilometers of a 17.05% average will end your day early.

Gearing

Do not under-gear for the Col de Parchet. A 37.62% maximum will expose any compromise in your setup within seconds. A 34×32 is the bare minimum most fit riders should consider, and even that will have you grinding at low cadence on the worst ramps. For nearly everyone, a 34×34 is the smarter choice, buying you the extra cadence you need to keep turning the pedals rather than stalling. On a climb averaging 17.05% over 8.3 km, spin capacity is not a luxury — it is what keeps you upright and moving.

Summary

The Col de Parchet is a rare beast: short in distance, colossal in difficulty. With 8.3 km of road averaging 17.05%, spiking to 37.62%, and lifting you 1416 m to a 1805 m summit, it demands respect, the right gears, and disciplined pacing from the first pedal stroke.

Length: 8.3 km
Average gradient: 17.05%
Max gradient: 37.62%
Start: 389 m
Summit: 1805 m
Net gain: 1416 m
Total ascent: 1392 m
Category: HC