Col Saint-Antoine (Corsica)

Overview

Col Saint-Antoine is a Category 2 climb in Corsica, France, running 11.4 km from a start elevation of 91 m to a summit of 667 m. On paper that gives a net elevation gain of 576 m at an average gradient of 5.05% — the kind of profile that reads as a steady, manageable tempo effort. Taken purely as a point-to-point ascent, it is moderate in scale and firmly mid-category.

The numbers hide the real story. While the net gain is 576 m, the total ascent is 970 m. That 394 m difference is climbing you do twice: metres you gain, give back on a descent or false flat, then have to gain again. On an undulating climb like this, the average gradient understates the effort because your legs feel the steep pitches, not the arithmetic mean. Expect the ride to cost more than a smooth 5% climb of the same net height.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.05% average is a blend of genuinely flat, even downhill, sections and pitches far steeper than the mean. The maximum reaches 18.18%, so there is at least one ramp that demands out-of-the-saddle effort or a very low gear. Because roughly 394 m of ascent comes from re-climbing lost ground, the profile is stepped rather than continuous.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the gradient eases or briefly drops — use these to spin and recover, not to attack.
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, each one clawing back elevation you just lost.
• The steepest ramp at 18.18% — a sharp, standing-effort pitch that punishes a big gear.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a constant speed forces you to spike hard over every riser and coast the descents, burning matches you will want later. Instead, hold a steady, repeatable effort anchored to your sustainable power output: let your speed rise on the easy sections and fall on the ramps while the effort stays flat.

Ease slightly on the recovery stretches rather than hammering them, and save headroom for the 18.18% pitch. If you do not know your numbers, run the FTP estimator first so you have a target to pace against.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your gear choice, and 18.18% is steep enough to justify a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34. That bottom gear lets you keep a comfortable cadence on the ramp instead of grinding and stalling. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the cassette and chainring you are actually running, not what you assume is fitted.

Summary

• Length: 11.4 km
• Average gradient: 5.05%
• Maximum gradient: 18.18%
• Net elevation gain: 576 m
• Total ascent: 970 m
• Category: 2

Col Saint-Antoine is a Cat 2 climb that rides harder than its 5.05% average suggests. Pace by effort, gear for the 18.18% ramp, and respect the 394 m of extra ascent hidden in the undulation.