Col des Feignes

Overview

Col des Feignes is a Category 3 climb in France, covering 5.2 km from a start elevation of 732 m to a summit at 963 m. On paper it is a short ascent with a net elevation gain of 231 m, the kind of climb that fits neatly into a longer day rather than defining it. The category and length suggest a manageable effort for most trained riders.

The number that reshapes that picture is total ascent. Against 231 m of net gain, the climb makes you pedal up 405 m in total — a difference of 174 m of extra climbing that comes from descents and rises along the way. That undulation means the road repeatedly gives back elevation you have already earned, forcing you to reclaim it. The average gradient of 4.41% is therefore a poor guide to the effort: you will spend far more of the climb well above and well below that figure than at it.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 4.41% across 5.2 km implies a gentle, steady grade. The profile does not deliver that. With 174 m of extra ascent folded into the 231 m of net gain, the climb is a sequence of rises and dips, and the steepest ramp reaches 27.29% — a wall that has nothing to do with the average.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections where the road gives elevation back
• Repeated short climbs that force you to reaccelerate from low speed
• A single savage ramp topping out at 27.29% that demands your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort pacing beats even-speed pacing. Chasing a constant speed forces huge surges on the steep pitches and wasted braking on the descents. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output, letting your speed rise on the flatter sections and fall on the ramps.

The trap here is the 27.29% ramp: hitting it too hard spikes you far above threshold and empties the tank for the rest of the 5.2 km. Know your number before you start — the FTP estimator will give you a target to hold across the undulations rather than reacting to each pitch.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your setup, and at 27.29% that is non-negotiable. Run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a fighting chance of spinning up the wall rather than grinding to a halt. On a pitch this steep, one gear too tall can force you off the bike. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride, not at the base of the ramp.

Summary

• Length: 5.2 km
• Average gradient: 4.41%
• Maximum gradient: 27.29%
• Net elevation gain: 231 m
• Total ascent: 405 m
• Category: 3

Col des Feignes is short on paper and deceptive in practice. The gap between 231 m net and 405 m total is the story: pace it by effort, gear for the 27.29% ramp, and treat the 4.41% average as the least useful number in the file.