Col du Pré de Raves

Overview

Col du Pré de Raves is a Category 1 climb in France, running 7.1 km from a valley start at 456 m to a summit at 1014 m. Over that distance it delivers 558 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 7.83%. That places it firmly in the range where the climb is long enough to matter and steep enough to hurt, but short enough that a poor start costs you the whole effort.

The number to watch is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 558 m net, but the total ascent is 748 m — a difference of 190 m. That extra vertical comes from the climb kicking up, easing, and kicking again rather than rising in a clean line. It means the 7.83% average understates the work: you pay for pitches steeper than average, then lose momentum on the flatter stretches in between. Expect the effort to feel choppier than a steady 7.83% grind.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.83% average is a blend, not a constant. The 190 m of undulation hidden in the total ascent tells you the road is not evenly graded — it stacks steep ramps against shallower recovery sections. The steepest pitch reaches 32.87%, a wall that dwarfs the average and demands you have gearing in reserve before you reach it.

• Flatter or brief recovery sections where the road eases below the average — use them, don't attack them
• Repeated short climbs that break rhythm and force you to re-accelerate
• One severe ramp at 32.87% that will spike your power and cadence if you hit it unprepared

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Your speed will swing with the gradient, and that is fine — the goal is a steady physiological load. Hold your power near your sustainable power output on the steep pitches and resist the urge to overcook the flatter sections to "make up time." That surging is what blows riders up before the summit.

If you don't know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first, then set a target you can hold through the choppy middle. On the 32.87% ramp, accept a slower, controlled grind over a heroic surge.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your setup, and 32.87% is severe. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset and pair it with a wide-range cassette — 34×32 or 34×34 at minimum. Anything narrower and you will be grinding a cadence low enough to stall or forced out of the saddle on the wall, both of which waste energy you need for the rest of the climb. Check your chainring and cassette before the ride, not at the base of the ramp.

Summary

• Length: 7.1 km
• Average gradient: 7.83%
• Maximum gradient: 32.87%
• Net elevation gain: 558 m
• Total ascent: 748 m
• Category: 1

Col du Pré de Raves is a short but demanding Category 1 climb where the undulation and the steep ramp matter more than the tidy 7.83% average. Pace by effort, gear for the wall, and treat the recovery sections as recovery — not opportunities to attack.