Forcella Col Mat

Overview

Forcella Col Mat is a Category 1 climb that packs genuine bite into a compact 8.2 km. From a start elevation of 380 m it hauls you up to a summit of 1016 m, a net gain of 636 m, with a total ascent of 621 m once the small undulations are counted. The headline number is the average gradient: 7.78% sustained across the full 8.2 km. That is not a figure you can hide from — there are no long flat recovery straights to reset your legs. On paper it sits just below the hors catégorie tier, but a Category 1 label at nearly 8% average is a climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining tension of Col Mat is the gap between its 7.78% average and its 14.37% maximum. That spread of a little over 6.5 percentage points tells you the road is not uniform — it stiffens well beyond the average in places. Because the mean already sits close to 8%, the steepest ramps do not arrive as a gentle build; they punch upward from an already-hard baseline. Expect the gradient to hover in the mid-to-high single digits for long stretches, then rear toward that 14.37% figure on the sharper pitches. With 636 m of vertical to gain over 8.2 km, every kilometre averages roughly 78 m of climbing, so there is nowhere the road truly relents.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this consistently steep, pacing is everything. The 7.78% average over 8.2 km means you will be near or above threshold for the entire ascent, so anchor your effort to your FTP rather than to how your legs feel in the opening minute. Riders who chase the early gradient tend to blow apart before the summit. Hold a steady, sustainable power on the average pitches and accept that the 14.37% ramps will spike your output — surge briefly, then settle back the moment the road eases. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so your target wattage matches the 636 m of climbing ahead.

Gearing

Gear for the steep pitches, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline here. For most fit riders a 34×32 will get you up the 7.78% stretches with cadence to spare, but the 14.37% maximum is where a 34×32 can leave you grinding. If you tire on long climbs or prefer to spin, a 34×34 gives that extra margin to keep your legs turning through the sharpest ramps rather than lurching out of the saddle. Over 8.2 km of sustained gradient, protecting your cadence early pays dividends in the final kilometres.

Summary

Forcella Col Mat is a short but uncompromising Category 1 test: 8.2 km at 7.78%, gaining 636 m to a 1016 m summit, with a 14.37% sting for the unprepared. Pace to your threshold, gear for the steep pitches, and it rewards a disciplined ride.

Length: 8.2 km
Average gradient: 7.78%
Max gradient: 14.37%
Start: 380 m
Summit: 1016 m
Net gain: 636 m
Total ascent: 621 m
Category: 1