Coll dels Empedrats

Overview

Coll dels Empedrats is a Category 1 climb in France, packing a hard effort into a compact 7.2 km. From a start elevation of -4 m to a summit at 600 m, it delivers a net elevation gain of 604 m — a serious amount of vertical for a road this short. On paper it reads as a single, uninterrupted push from near sea level to the top.

The road tells a more complicated story. Against 604 m of net gain, the total ascent is 749 m, which means roughly 145 m of climbing is spent re-gaining ground you gave back on short descents. That undulation is why the average gradient understates the effort: every dip forces you to break rhythm, shed momentum, and then rebuild it on the next ramp. Budget for more work than the net figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 8.37% average is a blend, not a constant. With 145 m of hidden descent folded into the profile, the pitches that actually climb are steeper than the headline number — and they arrive in bursts rather than one steady grade.

• Short flatter or descending sections that interrupt your cadence and cost you momentum.
• Repeated punchy ramps stacked back-to-back, each one asking for a fresh surge.
• A steepest pitch that spikes well into double figures, far above the average — the moment that decides your gearing.

Pacing Notes

On a smooth, even climb you can hold a steady wattage and let speed take care of itself. This one is not smooth. Even-effort pacing — holding a consistent power target — is the right approach here, because chasing an even speed over the undulations will drag you into surges every time the road pitches up. Anchor your effort to a sustainable power output you can hold for the full 7.2 km, and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain.

Practically, that means accepting slower numbers on the descents rather than coasting, and refusing to overcook the steep ramps. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you ride and set a target you can defend from bottom to top.

Gearing

The steepest ramp on this climb dictates your setup, not the average. On a grade this severe, gear for the worst pitch, not the mean. Run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 at minimum — so you can keep your cadence up and your knees safe when the road kicks. Check your drivetrain before the ride: confirm the cassette, verify the front chainrings, and make sure the rear derailleur can actually handle the largest sprocket. Discovering you are under-geared on the steepest section is a mistake you make only once.

Summary

• Length: 7.2 km
• Average gradient: 8.37%
• Net elevation gain: 604 m
• Total ascent: 749 m
• Category: 1

Coll dels Empedrats rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace to power, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the 749 m of total ascent — not the 604 m net — as the real measure of the day.