Coll d'Honor

Overview

Coll d'Honor is one of those climbs that leaves no room to hide. Over just 7.9 km it averages a savage 11.27%, hauling you from a near-sea-level start at 12 m all the way to a 906 m summit. That is 894 m of net elevation gain packed into a distance most riders would consider a warm-up, and the road records 872 m of total ascent along the way — proof that this is a climb with almost no relief once it turns upward.

The HC (hors catégorie) rating is not a formality here. With a double-digit average and a peak pitch of 30.02%, Coll d'Honor sits firmly in the hardest tier of paved climbs, above categories 1 through 4. This is a full-effort test of climbing legs, gearing choices, and pacing discipline.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story of this climb is written in its numbers. An 11.27% average over 7.9 km means there is effectively no flat, no false valley, no place to freewheel and recover. The climb simply keeps rising, and the gap between the 11.27% average and the 30.02% maximum tells you where the real damage is done.

Those 30.02% ramps are the crux. A pitch that steep is closer to a wall than a road, and when it arrives you will not smoothly power over it — you will fight for every pedal stroke. Because the average is already so high, these spikes stack on top of an already relentless grade rather than punctuating easier terrain. Expect the gradient to swing hard and often, and plan to keep something in reserve for the steepest kicks.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is everything. The temptation is to hit the lower slopes hard, but with 894 m of gain to grind out, blowing up early on Coll d'Honor means walking the top.

Anchor your effort to your FTP. On sustained pitches above 11%, most riders will drift above threshold whether they like it or not, so the goal is to cap those over-threshold surges and settle quickly afterward. Treat the 30.02% ramps as short, unavoidable spikes — accept a brief burst well over FTP, then bring the effort back down the moment the road relents. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you tackle it and set a realistic ceiling.

Gearing

Do not underestimate what 11.27% average and 30.02% maximum demand from your drivetrain. This is not a climb for racing gears. A compact chainring paired with a wide cassette is the minimum sensible setup.

A 34×32 will get many fit riders up, but on the 30.02% pitches it will feel desperately tall and force you to grind at low, knee-straining cadence. If your bike allows it, go one step further to a 34×34, which buys you enough range to keep spinning through the steepest ramps rather than muscling over them. On a climb with 894 m of unbroken gain, that extra sprocket protects your legs for the full distance.

Summary

Coll d'Honor is short, steep, and merciless — a genuine HC effort where 7.9 km feels far longer than the distance suggests. Respect the gradient, gear low, and pace to your threshold, and the 906 m summit is yours.

Length: 7.9 km
Average gradient: 11.27%
Max gradient: 30.02%
Start: 12 m
Summit: 906 m
Net gain: 894 m
Total ascent: 872 m
Category: HC