Col du Fornet

Overview

The Col du Fornet is a genuine hors catégorie test, the sort of climb that earns its HC label through sheer length rather than any single wall. Over 21.4 km the road hauls you from a start elevation of 411 m up to a summit at 1906 m, a net gain of 1495 m. Factor in the dips and false flats along the way and the total ascent reaches 1553 m, meaning you climb more than the net figure suggests. The average gradient of 6.99% sounds civil enough on paper, but a 32.12% maximum pitch tells you this ascent hides some vicious ramps inside its otherwise steady profile.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 21.4 km long, the Fornet is a climb of endurance first and explosiveness second. A 6.99% average across that distance is unusually consistent for a col this size, which means most of the road sits within touching distance of that figure rather than swinging wildly between flat and steep. The problem is the outliers. That 32.12% maximum is more than four times the average, so somewhere in the ascent there are short, savage kicks that can double or triple your effort in a heartbeat. The gap between the 1495 m net gain and the 1553 m total ascent also confirms there are recovery dips built in, small descents or plateaus that let the road claw back gradient later. Read those flat sections as chances to breathe, not to attack.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. Ride the whole 21.4 km at or slightly below your FTP and treat the steady 6.99% stretches as your metronome. The danger is the steep ramps toward that 32.12% maximum, where riders instinctively surge and blow their reserves early. Instead, shift down before each ramp, let your cadence carry you over the top, and settle straight back into rhythm. If you are not sure what wattage you can hold for the roughly 90-plus minutes this ascent demands, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first and pace to that target. A 1495 m gain is a long time to regret going out too hard.

Gearing

Gear for the ramps, not the average. A 6.99% mean is manageable on almost any setup, but the 32.12% maximum will punish anything too tall. For most riders a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear gives enough range to keep the pedals turning on the steady sections and survive the pitches. If you weigh more, prefer a higher cadence, or simply want insurance across all 21.4 km, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket is cheap protection on a climb where the steepest metres arrive when your legs are already 1000-plus metres of climbing deep.

Summary

The Col du Fornet rewards patience over power: hold a steady effort, respect the ramps, and let the length do its work. It is a proper HC monument, long enough to break an unready rider and satisfying enough to make the summit worth every metre.

Length: 21.4 km
Average gradient: 6.99%
Max gradient: 32.12%
Start: 411 m
Summit: 1906 m
Net gain: 1495 m
Total ascent: 1553 m
Category: HC