Col des Rangiers

Overview

Col des Rangiers is a category 3 climb in Switzerland, running 8.7 km through the Jura. It gains 387 m net, starting at 470 m and topping out at a summit elevation of 857 m. On paper it reads as a moderate ascent, and the category reflects that: this is not a mountain pass that will break you outright, but a sustained effort that rewards steady riding.

The number to watch is the gap between net elevation gain and total ascent. You climb 387 m net, but the road actually forces 667 m of total ascent on you — a difference of 280 m. That extra 280 m is climbing you do and then give back on descents and dips along the way. The profile undulates rather than climbing cleanly, so the effort feels choppier than the 4.43% average suggests. You pay for every metre you later coast down.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.43% average is a blend, not a constant. Undulation of this kind means the road repeatedly rises and falls, so the true working gradient on the "up" sections runs steeper than the average, offset by flatter or descending stretches. The headline figure hides a maximum gradient of 18.3% — a ramp far harder than anything the average implies.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road briefly levels or drops, letting you spin
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each one demanding a small surge
• A steepest ramp reaching 18.3%, where cadence collapses if your gearing is wrong

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing an even speed is a trap: you would overspend on every rise and freewheel through every dip, spiking your effort exactly where it costs most. Ride to an even effort instead. Hold a steady, sustainable power output across the whole 8.7 km and let your speed fluctuate — faster on the flatter sections, slower on the ramps. Over 280 m of hidden ascent, that discipline is what keeps you from blowing up on the steep pitches. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first and set your target below it, leaving headroom for the 18.3% ramp.

Gearing

That 18.3% maximum governs your setup. A 4.43% average never justifies a hard gear when a single pitch nearly triples it. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low ratio to keep pedalling through the steepest ramp instead of grinding to a stall. Check your setup before the ride, not at the base of the climb.

Summary

• Length: 8.7 km
• Average gradient: 4.43%
• Maximum gradient: 18.3%
• Net elevation gain: 387 m
• Total ascent: 667 m
• Category: 3

Col des Rangiers is a moderate climb that rides harder than its average. Respect the undulation, pace to effort, and gear for the 18.3% ramp — do that, and the 8.7 km will reward you.