Col des Moines

Overview

Col des Moines is a genuine hors catégorie test. Over 18.8 km the road lifts you from 815 m at the base to 2175 m at the summit, a net gain of 1360 m at an average gradient of 7.25%. That average is the headline: on a climb this long, sustained 7.25% is punishing precisely because it rarely relents. There is no gentle valley run-in hidden inside the number and no long flat plateau to recover on — the total ascent of 2025 m confirms that the route trends relentlessly upward, with only minor dips folded into the profile. Earning HC status takes both length and steepness, and Col des Moines has both in abundance.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Read the two elevation figures together and the shape becomes clear. A net gain of 1360 m across 18.8 km gives that 7.25% average, but a total ascent of 2025 m tells you the road also gives a little back along the way. The gap between the two — roughly 665 m of extra climbing hidden in rolling sections — means some ramps sit well above the average to compensate for the brief descents that steal elevation. Practically, expect the climb to breathe: stretches that bite harder than 7.25%, punctuated by short pitches that ease just enough to shift and drink. Because max gradient is not recorded here, treat every blind corner as potentially steeper than the average and keep something in reserve rather than emptying the tank early.

Pacing Notes

On an 18.8 km HC climb, pacing is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below threshold for the opening two-thirds, because 1360 m of vertical gain will expose any early over-commitment. If you don't know your threshold number yet, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go so your target wattage is honest rather than optimistic. The smart approach is negative-split thinking: hold back where the road tips above 7.25% and let yourself press only once the summit at 2175 m is genuinely in reach. Fuel and hydrate on the shallower rolling sections — those brief eases are your only real windows to recover on a climb that averages 7.25% start to finish.

Gearing

For 18.8 km at 7.25%, gear low and gear early. A compact 34-tooth inner ring is the sensible starting point. Pairing that 34 with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders enough range to spin the sustained gradient, but on a climb gaining 1360 m, many will be grateful for the extra rescue gear of a 34×34. If your legs are not race-fit or you're carrying luggage, default to 34×34 — the steeper-than-average ramps that push total ascent to 2025 m are far easier to survive when you can keep the cadence up rather than grinding. Spinning a low gear protects your legs for the full 18.8 km.

Summary

Col des Moines rewards patience and honest gearing: respect the 7.25% average, use the rolling sections wisely, and the 2175 m summit is well within reach.

Length: 18.8 km
Average gradient: 7.25%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 815 m
Summit: 2175 m
Net gain: 1360 m
Total ascent: 2025 m
Category: HC