Coll de l'Ullat

Overview

Coll de l'Ullat is a hors-catégorie (HC) climb in France, rising from a low coastal base to a mountain col. It runs 8.8 km and delivers 890 m of net elevation gain, lifting you from a start elevation of 75 m to a summit at 965 m. At 10.1% average gradient, this is a serious, sustained effort — HC classification is earned here, not inflated.

The numbers hide a wrinkle worth flagging before you clip in. Net gain is 890 m, but the total ascent is 1093 m. That 203 m gap means the climb undulates: you give back roughly 203 m of descent across the route, then have to reclaim it. Every metre of that lost height is paid for twice — once going down, once climbing back. On a climb this steep, that undulation breaks rhythm and inflates the true workload well beyond what the net figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 10.1% average on a road that also descends in places means the climbing sections are steeper than the headline number. When the profile gives back height, the pitches that remain have to overcompensate to still average 10.1% overall. Expect the gradient to swing hard rather than settle.

• Short recovery or descending sections where you lose part of the 203 m of give-back, offering brief relief.
• Repeated short climbs stacked between those dips, each demanding a fresh surge of power.
• A steepest ramp well into double digits — plan to be in your lowest gear before you reach it, not during.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating HC climb, chasing an even speed is a trap: to hold constant pace on the steep ramps you would spike far above your sustainable power output and blow up before the summit. Pace to even effort instead. Let your speed drop on the steep pitches and keep the power steady, then use the flatter and descending sections to recover rather than to accelerate.

Know your ceiling before you start. Run the FTP estimator and set a power cap you can hold for the full 8.8 km, then ride under it on the ramps and bank recovery on the give-back sections.

Gearing

Gearing is dictated by the steepest ramp, not the average. On a climb averaging 10.1% with steeper pitches embedded, a standard chainset will grind you to a halt. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you a cadence you can actually turn on the steep sections. Check your setup the day before the ride, not at the base of the climb.

Summary

• Length: 8.8 km
• Average gradient: 10.1%
• Net elevation gain: 890 m
• Total ascent: 1093 m
• Category: HC

Coll de l'Ullat is a short but uncompromising HC climb where the undulation matters as much as the average gradient. Come with low gearing, an even-effort plan, and respect for the 1093 m your legs will actually cover.