Croix de Verrières

Overview

Croix de Verrières is a category 3 climb that trades severity for length. Over 11.1 km it lifts you from 324 m to 674 m, a net gain of 350 m, at an average gradient of 3.15%. That number tells you most of what you need to know: this is a rolling, steady effort rather than a wall. The total ascent of 354 m sits just above the net figure, which means there is barely any downhill mixed in — almost every metre you climb, you keep. With a max gradient of 8.78%, the hardest ramp is real but brief, and it never approaches the ferocity of a category 1 or HC ascent.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is defined by the gap between the 3.15% average and the 8.78% maximum. A climb that averages barely over three percent but touches nearly nine is uneven by nature: long shallow stretches carry the average down, punctuated by short pitches that spike well above it. Expect passages where the road tilts up to that near-9% figure, then relaxes back to grades where you can shift up and roll. Because the total ascent (354 m) almost exactly matches the net gain (350 m), there are no meaningful descents to reset your legs — the effort is continuous. Manage the steep ramps and the flatter sections will feel like recovery.

Pacing Notes

At 3.15% average, Croix de Verrières rewards a rhythm you can hold for the full 11.1 km. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on the shallow sections you should sit comfortably below threshold, banking the time you will spend above it on the 8.78% ramps. Resist the urge to hammer the flatter kilometres — the climb is long enough that surges cost more than they gain. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first, then set a target you can sustain across the whole 350 m of climbing. The pitches near max gradient are where power naturally spikes; let cadence, not force, absorb them.

Gearing

For a climb of this length and gradient, prioritise a spread that lets you spin the steep ramps without grinding. A compact setup with a 34×32 lowest gear is enough for most riders to stay on top of the 8.78% sections while remaining efficient on the 3.15% average. If you carry extra weight, ride tired, or simply prefer a higher cadence, a 34×34 gives you a welcome extra sprocket for the sharpest pitches. Because the road spends most of its 11.1 km at gentle grades, you will use the middle of the cassette often — the low gears are insurance for the spikes, not the default.

Summary

Croix de Verrières is an honest, sustainable category 3 climb: long, mostly gentle, with just enough gradient near the summit to keep you honest. Pace to your threshold, gear for the ramps, and the 350 m to 674 m unfold as a steady, satisfying effort.

Length — 11.1 km
Average gradient — 3.15%
Max gradient — 8.78%
Start — 324 m
Summit — 674 m
Net gain — 350 m
Total ascent — 354 m
Category — 3