Col d'Entremont

Overview

The Col d'Entremont is a Category 3 climb in France that punches harder than its average gradient suggests. At 6.7 km with a 4.37% mean gradient and 293 m of net elevation gain across 525 m of total ascent, the road's character shifts significantly between bottom and summit. The gap between total ascent and net gain tells you something important: this is not a clean, unbroken ramp. Expect undulations, and expect one or two sections that reset your legs before the road tilts up again.

Gradient Profile

The 4.37% average is a number to treat with suspicion. Somewhere on this climb sits a 16.97% maximum gradient — nearly four times the mean. That kind of spread means the effort is uneven. The gentle lower slopes and any flat or downhill rollers are statistical ballast hiding at least one genuinely steep ramp.

How the gradient unfolds:

• Lower slopes: Likely moderate, consistent with the lower end of the average. Use this section to settle into a sustainable pace and resist the temptation to overcook it early.
• Mid-section: The total ascent (525 m) versus net gain (293 m) gap points to elevation loss somewhere on the route — possibly here. A descent or flat stretch mid-climb can be a trap: legs recover briefly, then the gradient bites again.
• Upper slopes: The 16.97% maximum is likely concentrated near the top or in a single punchy ramp. Be ready to shift down earlier than feels necessary when the road kicks.

Pacing Strategy

For a climb of this length — roughly 15–25 minutes for most trained riders depending on fitness — sustainable FTP-based pacing is appropriate. A Category 3 designation means this is a moderate effort in the context of a longer ride, not an all-out sprint.

Key points:

• Target 85–95% of FTP for the bulk of the climb if riding solo or in a training context. If unsure of your FTP, use the FTP estimator before assigning a power target.
• When the maximum gradient section appears, accept the power spike briefly rather than trying to hold it at threshold — grinding a 17% pitch at the same power you used on the 4% opening will cost more than it saves.
• On any mid-climb flat or descent, reduce effort deliberately. Do not chase speed. Use the recovery.
• Cadence: aim to stay above 70 rpm through the steep sections. Mashing a big gear on near-17% tarmac damages muscular endurance for the remainder of the climb.

Gearing Notes

With a maximum gradient approaching 17%, compact or semi-compact gearing is worth having available. A 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 30- or 32-tooth cassette sprocket gives adequate float on the steepest ramp without over-gearing the gentler sections. Riders on 50/34 or 46/36 setups should have no issues. Standard double users on 53/39 should confirm their cassette range before committing to the climb at race pace.

Summary

The Col d'Entremont rewards riders who read gradient data critically. Its 4.37% average understates the difficulty of its steepest pitch. Plan for a variable effort, protect your legs through the moderate sections, and keep a gear in reserve for the ramp that the maximum gradient figure is pointing at.