Col de Richemond

What to Expect on Col de Richemond

Col de Richemond is a Category 1 climb in France that covers 13 km from bottom to top, rising 862 m from a start elevation of 329 m to a summit at 1,055 m. The average gradient of 5.6% sits at a manageable figure on paper, but the maximum gradient of 19.61% tells a different story. This is a climb with real teeth.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.6% average across 13 km means the road spends a significant portion of its length either well below or well above that figure. A max of 19.61% is severe — nearly double the average — which points to at least one concentrated ramp that can shatter rhythm and spike heart rate if you arrive at it already deep in the red.

The extended length of 13 km means there is no hiding from accumulated fatigue. Even sections that feel moderate early on will register differently in your legs by kilometre eight or nine. The total ascent of 862 m confirms the workload is substantial: this is a climb that demands sustained output, not just a brief effort.

Pacing Notes

• Resist the early kilometres. With 13 km ahead of you and a max gradient lurking somewhere on the road, going out hard is the surest way to blow up before the summit. Keep power anchored to your FTP target — somewhere in the 75–85% range is appropriate for most riders on a Category 1 effort of this length.
• Identify the steep section in advance. The 19.61% max gradient represents a decisive moment in the climb. If you don't know where it falls, treat any sudden steepening as a potential candidate and shift before you need to — not during.
• Manage cadence, not just power. On ramps approaching 20%, maintaining a smooth pedal stroke becomes difficult. A slightly lower gear than feels necessary going into sharp pitches preserves the ability to accelerate out rather than grinding to a near-standstill.

Gearing Recommendations

For riders on a standard double chainring setup, a compact crankset (50/34) paired with an 11-32 or 11-34 cassette gives adequate range for the steeper pitches without forcing an uncomfortably low cadence. Riders on a 1× drivetrain should confirm their low gear is sufficient for sustained gradients close to 20% before committing to the climb — getting caught over-geared near the top of a Category 1 ascent is a costly mistake.

If you want to calculate a target power for this climb based on your current fitness, use the FTP Estimator before you ride.

The Bigger Picture

Col de Richemond sits in the same Category 1 bracket as climbs that regularly feature in professional racing. The combination of length, total elevation gain, and that sharp maximum gradient makes it genuinely demanding. Treat the average gradient as a baseline to plan around, not a ceiling to chase. Controlled output for the first two-thirds, with reserves held for wherever the road bites hardest, is the approach that gets most riders to the summit with something left.