Col du Pré
11.9 km at 8.48% average with a savage 33.18% maximum — the Col du Pré is an HC beast in the French Alps that demands careful pacing and low gearing from the first pedal stroke.
- Length
- 11.9km
- Avg
- 8.5%
- Max
- 33.2%
- Summit
- 1,704m
- Ascent
- 1,473m
The climb
Gradient profile
Col du Pré Cycling Climb: What to Expect
The Col du Pré is a Hors Catégorie climb in France that earns its classification honestly. Starting at 692 m elevation and finishing at 1704 m, the road hauls you through 1473 m of total ascent over just 11.9 km — an average gradient of 8.48% with virtually no flat recovery built into the equation. That average alone puts it in the company of climbs that punish riders who arrive undertrained or overgeared.
The headline number is the maximum gradient: 33.18%. That figure is not a misprint. Short ramps at that angle border on unrideable for anyone without a very compact setup and a well-timed approach. Hitting a 33% pitch after several kilometres of sustained 8%+ climbing requires both the right cassette and a disciplined effort in the opening half of the ascent.
How the Gradient Unfolds
With an 8.48% average across 11.9 km, there is no soft introduction. The climb begins at 692 m and stays committed throughout. The 1473 m of total ascent means the road is almost always tilted at or above its average — brief easier stretches exist, but they are not long enough to reset your legs meaningfully.
The extreme maximum of 33.18% indicates at least one section where the road kicks to a wall-like pitch. These ramps tend to appear without much warning and can shatter a pace that felt sustainable on the approach. Treat any section below 7% as active recovery, not a chance to accelerate.
Pacing Notes
- Start conservatively. With 11.9 km at this average, going out at threshold pace is a fast way to blow up before the upper half.
- Target a sustainable power output well below your 1-minute or 5-minute peak. For most riders, this climb should be executed at or slightly below FTP — not above it. Use the FTP estimator to calibrate if you haven't tested recently.
- Treat the average as a floor, not a ceiling. An 8.48% average on an HC climb means the easier pitches are probably around 6–7%, and the hard ones are considerably steeper. Budget power accordingly.
- Do not sprint through the ramps. On a 33% gradient, standing out of the saddle and surging wastes energy you will need higher up. Keep a slow, controlled cadence through the steepest sections.
Gearing Recommendations
A compact chainset (50/34 or smaller) paired with at least an 11-32 cassette is the minimum sensible setup. Given the 33.18% maximum, a 34/34 or even a 1x setup with a wide-range cassette (10-42 or 10-50) is worth serious consideration if you are not a specialist climber. Arriving on the wrong gear at the wrong moment on a 33% pitch can mean a foot down — or a fall.
If you are comparing gear choices for HC Alpine climbs, the Col du Pré demands more respect than its length might initially suggest. 11.9 km feels short on paper; 1473 m of climbing at this gradient does not feel short on the bike.
Summary
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 11.9 km |
| Average Gradient | 8.48% |
| Maximum Gradient | 33.18% |
| Total Ascent | 1473 m |
| Start Elevation | 692 m |
| Summit Elevation | 1704 m |
| Category | HC |
The Col du Pré is not a climb to improvise. The combination of a sustained 8.48% average, irregular steep ramps peaking at 33.18%, and over 1470 m of accumulated climbing makes it one of the most demanding HC ascents in France. Respect the early kilometres, carry the right gears, and leave something in reserve for whatever the road throws at the top.