Col des Journaux

Overview

Col des Journaux sits in France as a Category 3 climb — modest on paper, but with enough gradient variance to catch riders who treat the entire 10.4 km as a steady-state effort. The average gradient of 3.75% over 657 m of total ascent makes it approachable for most trained cyclists, yet the 13.86% maximum gradient demands respect and a clear pacing strategy before you roll off the start at 388 m elevation.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an average of 3.75% across 10.4 km, Col des Journaux is not a relentlessly steep climb. The road predominantly rolls at a manageable pitch — the kind of gradient where FTP-paced riding feels sustainable and breathing stays controlled. However, that 13.86% maximum gradient is nearly four times the average, which signals at least one — possibly more — sharp ramp buried in the profile.

Expect the overall character to be something like this:

• Lower slopes: Likely easy to moderate, giving you time to settle into a rhythm and resist the urge to push hard early.
• Steeper sections: When the gradient kicks sharply toward double digits, the contrast after gentler gradients makes it feel harder than the number alone suggests. These sections are where riders who have overcooked the first half lose time and begin to pedal squares.
• Upper slopes to summit: At 777 m summit elevation, the top is never at altitude extreme, so hypoxic fatigue is not a factor. The final kilometres will expose any early pacing errors.

Pacing Notes

The gap between average (3.75%) and maximum (13.86%) gradient is the central pacing challenge here. Riding the gentle sections at or near threshold is tempting but costly when the steep ramps appear.

Recommended approach:

• Ride the lower-gradient sections at roughly 85–90% of FTP. Use them to recover, not to bank time.
• When the gradient steepens toward the maximum, aim to hold close to threshold rather than spike well above it. A big anaerobic effort on a steep ramp mid-climb creates a debt that 3–4 km of moderate gradient may not fully repay before the summit.
• If you're unsure of your current FTP, use the FTP Estimator to set your zones before attempting a paced effort.

Gearing

For most trained cyclists, a standard compact (50/34) with an 11-28 or 11-32 cassette will handle this climb without issue. The 3.75% average gradient is well within a compact's comfort zone, and even the 13.86% maximum is manageable in a 34×28 or 34×32 combination provided you're not already fatigued when you hit it.

If you're running a 1x drivetrain, confirm your smallest cog gives you a gear ratio that keeps cadence above 75 rpm on the steepest pitches. Grinding through a 13.86% ramp at 60 rpm burns significantly more matches than spinning through it at 80–85 rpm.

Key Numbers at a Glance

Bottom Line

Col des Journaux rewards steady, disciplined riders over those who attack the easier lower gradients. The near-14% maximum is the climb's defining feature — identify where it falls on the road, arrive at it with legs intact, and the summit is well within reach for any Cat 3-capable rider.