Col du Pradel

Overview

Col du Pradel is a Category 1 climb in France, running 10.5 km from a base at 881 m to a summit of 1665 m. Across that distance it delivers 784 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 7.45%. Those numbers place it firmly in serious mountain territory: long enough to demand real pacing discipline, and steep enough on average that there is nowhere to hide once the road tilts up.

The bigger story sits in the gap between the net gain and the total ascent. While you climb 784 m net, the road actually gains 1341 m in total — a difference of 557 m. That extra vertical comes from undulation: the profile rolls, giving back elevation through dips and false flats before clawing it back. Practically, this means your legs do meaningfully more work than the net figure suggests, and momentum is repeatedly interrupted.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.45% average is a blend, not a constant. With 557 m of extra ascent hidden inside the profile, the climb is not a smooth ramp — it stacks steep pitches against flatter recovery zones, and the steepest sections run far above the average. Expect the gradient to swing hard around that mean.

• Flatter and false-flat sections where the road eases, letting you recover briefly.
• Repeated short climbs that regain elevation lost through the dips.
• A steepest ramp that spikes well beyond the 7.45% average — the hardest sustained effort of the day.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort pacing beats even-speed pacing. Chasing a constant speed forces you to spike your power on every ramp and coast on every dip, burning matches you will want later. Instead, anchor your effort to a steady, sustainable power output and let your speed fluctuate with the terrain — ride the steep pitches at a controlled ceiling and use the flatter sections to settle, not to hammer.

If you do not already know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go. Knowing that ceiling lets you hold back on the early ramps so the repeated climbs late in the 10.5 km do not empty you out.

Gearing

With gradients spiking well above the average, gearing is governed by the steepest ramp, not the mean. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a low enough bailout gear to keep your cadence up when the road bites, rather than grinding at a joint-punishing 50 rpm. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the cassette and chainset you are actually running, and swap in the wider range if your smallest gear leaves you overgeared for the steep pitches.

Summary

• Length: 10.5 km
• Average gradient: 7.45%
• Maximum gradient: 17.79%
• Net elevation gain: 784 m
• Total ascent: 1341 m
• Category: 1

Col du Pradel rewards riders who respect its undulation. The net 784 m understates the 1341 m your legs will actually climb, so pace to effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat every recovery section as a chance to save something for the pitches that follow.