Croix de la Bottière

Overview

Croix de la Bottière is a category 1 climb that asks a serious question of your legs. Over 11.3 km it averages 8.43%, dragging you from a start elevation of 670 m up to a summit at 1619 m. That is a net gain of 949 m, with 906 m of total ascent packed into the effort. This is not a climb that eases you in and rewards patience later; the 8.43% average is high enough that there is nowhere comfortable to hide, and a spike of 22.61% means at least one section will have you out of the saddle and grinding.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining tension of this climb is the gap between its average and its maximum. An 8.43% average is already demanding across 11.3 km, but a 22.61% maximum tells you the road is not uniform. Expect the gradient to swing above and below the mean, with the steepest pitch more than doubling the average slope. Because the net gain (949 m) exceeds the total ascent figure (906 m), the climb is overwhelmingly one direction: relentlessly up, with almost no descending or flat respite to recover. Treat every stretch that sits near or above 8.43% as the baseline, and brace for the ramps that surge toward that 22.61% ceiling.

Pacing Notes

Pace this one off your sustainable power, not your ego. On an 11.3 km effort at 8.43%, most riders will be climbing for well beyond half an hour, so anchor your intensity to your FTP and hold something in reserve for the 22.61% pitch. Going into the red early on the shallower ramps will cost you dearly when the road rears up. If you are not sure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. A good rule: ride the 8.43% sections a touch under threshold so you can absorb the steepest kicks without blowing apart.

Gearing

Gear for the max, not the average. The 22.61% maximum is what dictates your setup here, because that is where cadence collapses and torque demands spike. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline: 34×32 will get most fit climbers up the 8.43% stretches, but on a pitch touching 22.61% you will be grateful for a 34×34 to keep your cadence turning and your knees intact. If your bike can take it, err toward the easier ratio — over 11.3 km and 906 m of ascent, spinning a lower gear preserves your legs far better than muscling a big one.

Summary

Croix de la Bottière is a proper category 1 test: long enough to hurt, steep enough on average to sting the whole way, and punctuated by a 22.61% ramp that demands respect and low gears. Pace it off your threshold, gear generously, and let the summit at 1619 m come to you.

Length: 11.3 km
Average gradient: 8.43%
Max gradient: 22.61%
Start: 670 m
Summit: 1619 m
Net gain: 949 m
Total ascent: 906 m
Category: 1