Col des Saisies

Overview

The Col des Saisies is a Category 1 climb in France, running 12.1 km from its base at 792 m to the summit at 1,625 m. The net elevation gain is 833 m, though the total ascent logged across the route reaches 1,481 m — a sign that the road is not a clean, linear grind but contains enough undulation to accumulate significant extra vertical.

The average gradient of 6.89% is deceptively tidy. A maximum gradient of 27.72% sits buried somewhere on that profile, and that figure changes the conversation entirely.

Gradient Profile

At 6.89% average over 12.1 km, the Col des Saisies sits in the sustained-effort category — hard enough to demand genuine pacing discipline, moderate enough that a fit climber can settle into a rhythm. But the gap between the average and the 27.72% maximum tells you everything: expect at least one ramp that bears no resemblance to the overall character of the climb.

What to expect, section by section

• Lower slopes: The opening kilometers from 792 m tend to ease you in. Use this to establish your cadence and resist the temptation to bank time by pushing hard early.
• Mid-climb: The gradient fluctuates. The discrepancy between net gain (833 m) and total ascent (1,481 m) confirms there are false flats and short descents that will tempt you to surge — resist where possible.
• The steep ramp: A maximum of 27.72% appears somewhere before the summit at 1,625 m. This is well beyond what most standard compact gearing handles comfortably at any meaningful speed. Treat it as a near-static effort: sit or stand depending on traction, keep the front wheel weighted, and accept a sharp drop in velocity.

Pacing Notes

The 6.89% average makes it tempting to target a steady power output relative to your FTP from the gun. Don't. The 27.72% spike will cost you far more if you arrive at it already deep in the red.

Recommended approach:

1. Ride the first third at or slightly below your threshold power — use the gentler lower slopes to settle breathing and heart rate.
2. Through the variable mid-section, resist reacting to every gradient change. Hold watts, not speed.
3. Budget a sharp power spike for the steep ramp. Accept that speed drops to near-walking pace. Keep pedaling smoothly and don't panic-shift into a cross-chained combination.
4. If the road eases in the final kilometers to the 1,625 m summit, you can lift the pace — but only if the steep section is fully behind you.

Unsure of your current threshold numbers? Use the FTP estimator before attempting a Category 1 effort like this.

Gearing

A 27.72% gradient is serious. On a standard compact chainset (50/34), you will want at least a 32-tooth sprocket on the rear, and a 34-tooth is safer. Riders on semi-compact or standard chainsets should plan accordingly — being spun out is not the risk here; being undergeared and grinding at low cadence into that ramp absolutely is.

For reference on how to think about gearing choices on steep Alpine passes, see the glossary entry on cadence and gear selection.

Summary

The Col des Saisies is not a climb that punishes you relentlessly from bottom to top, but it does punish complacency. Respect the hidden steep sections, gear appropriately, and keep something in reserve for where the road tilts hardest.