Croix de Commune

Overview

Croix de Commune is a climb that reads like a dare. Over just 8 km it averages a brutal 14.98%, dragging you from a start elevation of 759 m up to a 1951 m summit. That is a net gain of 1192 m, with 1118 m of total ascent packed into a distance most riders would consider a warm-up elsewhere. There is nothing gentle here. The category tells the story before you even turn a pedal: HC, hors catégorie, the label reserved for climbs that break the ordinary scale entirely.

The average alone would be punishing, but averages hide the worst of it. With ramps hitting 34.98%, this is a climb defined by its steepest moments as much as its length.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 14.98% across 8 km means there is almost no relief built into the profile. Where most hard climbs give you a flat kilometre to recover, Croix de Commune keeps the pressure on from bottom to top. The gap between the 14.98% average and the 34.98% maximum is the number that matters most — it tells you the climb spikes to more than double its own average.

Those maximum ramps are where the day is won or lost. A 34.98% pitch is beyond what most riders can spin; it becomes a grinding, out-of-saddle fight for traction. Between the spikes, the gradient rarely drops to anything you would call easy. Expect the road to sit stubbornly in the high teens and twenties, punctuated by walls that force everything you have. The near-total absence of flat sections across the full 1192 m of climbing means your legs never fully reset.

Pacing Notes

Discipline early is everything on a climb this steep. The temptation is to attack the lower ramps, but with 8 km still to give and an average of 14.98%, going into the red in the first kilometre is a mistake you cannot undo. Anchor your effort to your FTP and treat the steepest pitches as brief overspends you repay on the marginally shallower sections — though on Croix de Commune, "shallower" is relative.

If you do not know your threshold, estimate it first with the FTP estimator so you can set a sustainable ceiling. On gradients that touch 34.98%, cadence collapses and power spikes whether you want it to or not, so bank every watt of restraint you can on the approach to each wall.

Gearing

Do not underestimate what 14.98% average with 34.98% ramps demands from your drivetrain. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the minimum sensible front, and at the rear you want the biggest cassette you can fit. A 34×32 is the absolute floor here, and honestly most riders will be happier with a 34×34 or larger. On the steepest pitches even 34×34 will have you grinding at a low cadence, so if your frame and derailleur can accommodate more range, take it. This is not a climb for looking hard; it is a climb for finishing.

Summary

Croix de Commune earns its HC rating without argument. Eight kilometres, an average that most climbs never reach even briefly, and ramps steep enough to stop you dead — it is a pure test of climbing strength and gear choice. Come prepared, ride within yourself, and let the 1951 m summit be the reward.

Length: 8 km
Average gradient: 14.98%
Max gradient: 34.98%
Start: 759 m
Summit: 1951 m
Net gain: 1192 m
Total ascent: 1118 m
Category: HC