Coll de Campirme

Overview

Coll de Campirme is a hors catégorie (HC) climb — the hardest rung on the classification ladder, sitting above categories 1 through 4. Over 10.9 km it averages a savage 9.72%, lifting you from a start elevation of 956 m to a summit at 2014 m. That is a net elevation gain of 1058 m, packed into just under eleven kilometres. There is no gentle preamble here: an average approaching double digits means the road tilts up and stays there, punishing any rider who arrives with tired legs or an ambitious pace.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number is the average — 9.72% sustained across the full 10.9 km. On a climb this steep, the average tells most of the story, but the 30.71% maximum gradient warns you that the road is not uniform. Somewhere on the mountain the tarmac kicks to more than three times the average, a wall steep enough to force you out of the saddle or drop you to a walk if you have misjudged your effort. Between those spikes the gradient rarely relents below the average for long. Note too that the total ascent of 1007 m is fractionally less than the 1058 m net gain figure — a reminder that the route is essentially all climbing, with almost no false-flat or descent to recover on.

Pacing Notes

On a sustained HC climb like this, discipline beats bravado. Ride to your FTP, not to your ego — hold a steady, repeatable effort rather than chasing the wheel in front. The steepest ramps toward that 30.71% maximum will tempt you to surge, but every match you burn early on the lower slopes is a match you will miss near the 2014 m summit. If you do not know your threshold, calculate it first with the FTP estimator so you can set a realistic target power and pace the full 10.9 km without blowing up. A good rule: aim to finish the first two-thirds feeling like you have more, because the altitude and the accumulated 1058 m of gain will take that reserve from you.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With a 9.72% average and pitches to 30.71%, most riders will want the widest range they can fit. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the baseline; paired with a 34×32, you have a survivable low gear for the sustained sections. But for the steepest ramps — and to protect your legs across the full 1058 m of climbing — a 34×34 is the smarter choice, giving you an extra sliver of relief when the road hits its 30.71% wall. If your frame and derailleur allow it, err toward the easier ratio. Spinning a low gear at a high cadence will always cost less than grinding a big gear on a slope this severe.

Summary

Coll de Campirme is a genuine HC test: relentlessly steep, high-altitude, and unforgiving of poor pacing. Respect the average, gear low, and ration your effort to the 2014 m summit.

Length: 10.9 km
Average gradient: 9.72%
Max gradient: 30.71%
Start: 956 m
Summit: 2014 m
Net gain: 1058 m
Total ascent: 1007 m
Category: HC