Coll de Coubet

Overview

Coll de Coubet is a long-haul Category 2 climb that trades brute steepness for sheer distance. Over 18.3 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 243 m to a 974 m summit — a net gain of 731 m, with 732 m of total ascent once the minor dips along the way are counted. The average gradient sits at a modest 3.99%, which tells you immediately what kind of effort this is: not a wall to be attacked, but a sustained rhythm to be held for the better part of an hour. The single-percentage-point difference between net gain and total ascent hints at a road that mostly climbs but never truly relents.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an average of 3.99% and a maximum of 8.56%, the story here is one of variability around a gentle mean. A 3.99% average across 18.3 km means long stretches must sit comfortably below that figure to balance out the harder pitches that peak at 8.56%. Expect the climb to breathe: shallow drags where you can push a bigger gear, punctuated by steeper ramps that never quite double the average. Nothing on Coll de Coubet approaches the leg-breaking gradients of an HC ascent, but the 731 m of vertical gain is relentless in its own quiet way. The gap between the 3.99% mean and the 8.56% max is your warning to keep something in reserve for the ramps.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing discipline is everything. The 18.3 km distance means a rider will typically spend 45 to 75 minutes on the ascent, which places the effort squarely in the zone where your FTP governs how the day plays out. Aim to settle in slightly below threshold on the shallower sections and only let the effort drift upward on the ramps toward 8.56%. Going too deep early on a 731 m climb is punished cruelly in the final kilometres. If you're unsure what wattage you can hold for an hour, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. The goal is an even effort that leaves you steady, not shattered, as the summit approaches at 974 m.

Gearing

Because the average is a friendly 3.99%, many riders will find a compact chainring paired with a 34×32 more than adequate for holding tempo across the bulk of the climb. That said, the 8.56% max gradient combined with tiring legs deep into an 18.3 km effort makes a 34×34 the smarter insurance for anyone who prefers to spin rather than grind. If your fitness is on the modest side or you're riding this at the end of a long day, favour the 34×34 — the extra range costs you nothing on the flatter sections and buys real relief on the steeper ramps.

Summary

Coll de Coubet is a patient rider's climb: long, steady, and honest, asking for endurance and pacing rather than explosive power. Hold your rhythm, respect the distance, and the 974 m summit comes to you.

Length: 18.3 km
Average gradient: 3.99%
Max gradient: 8.56%
Start: 243 m
Summit: 974 m
Net gain: 731 m
Total ascent: 732 m
Category: 2