Crête Sèche

Overview

Crête Sèche is a Category 2 climb in Switzerland, running 5.8 km from a start elevation of 1,111 m to a summit at 1,456 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 345 m at an average gradient of 5.94%. On paper that reads as a steady, mid-length climb, but the average alone undersells what the legs actually feel.

The number to watch is the gap between the 345 m of net gain and the 563 m of total ascent. That 218 m difference is climbing you do that never shows up on the elevation summary, because it is given back on descents and false flats along the way. Crête Sèche is an undulating climb, not a uniform grind. You pay for terrain that later drops away, and that repeated build-and-release pattern is harder to pace than a single sustained slope of the same average.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 5.94% average hides real variation. With a maximum gradient of 16.72%, the steepest ramp is nearly three times the average, so the climb is not evenly loaded — some sections are gentle or downhill while others spike well into double digits.

Expect the profile to break down roughly like this:

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly descends, giving back part of the net gain
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the 563 m of total ascent rather than one continuous wall
• A steepest ramp approaching 16.72%, where gradient forces a hard gear change and a jump in effort

Pacing Notes

On a climb this lumpy, even-speed pacing is a trap. Holding a constant speed means surging your power on every steep ramp and coasting soft on the flatter sections — you burn matches you cannot get back. Aim instead for even effort: let your speed rise on the shallow and downhill stretches and drop on the steep pitches, keeping your output near your sustainable power output throughout.

Know that ceiling before you start. Use the FTP estimator to set a target, then ride the steep 16.72% ramp just above it rather than deep into the red. The undulation gives you natural recovery windows — use the flatter sections to spin and clear your legs, not to chase lost time.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your setup. At 16.72%, you want a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 keeps you seated and spinning where the road bites hardest. Grinding a gear that is too tall on those ramps wastes energy you will want later on the repeated climbs. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; confirming the low gear beforehand is far easier than wishing for it mid-climb.

Summary

• Length: 5.8 km
• Average gradient: 5.94%
• Maximum gradient: 16.72%
• Net elevation gain: 345 m
• Total ascent: 563 m
• Category: 2

Crête Sèche rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace by effort, gear for the 16.72% ramp, and treat the 563 m of total ascent — not the 345 m net — as the real workload of the day.