Golet du Pey

Overview

The Golet du Pey is a category 2 climb that stretches over 13.7 km, a length that puts it firmly in the long-and-steady bracket rather than the short-and-savage one. It starts at 316 m and tops out at 866 m, giving a net elevation gain of 550 m. The average gradient sits at a moderate 4.01%, but that headline figure hides a maximum pitch of 8.91% waiting somewhere along the way. With a total ascent of 541 m recorded across its 13.7 km, this is a climb you settle into and grind out, not one you attack from the base.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the arithmetic and the character of this climb becomes clear. Over 13.7 km you gain 550 m of net elevation, yet the total ascent is 541 m — the two figures sitting only 9 m apart tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly upward with barely any give-back or false descent. There is very little free downhill here.

An average of 4.01% is shallow enough to spin, but the 8.91% maximum means the climb is not perfectly uniform. Somewhere in these 13.7 km the road more than doubles its average steepness. Expect long, honest stretches close to the mean, punctuated by at least one pinch where the gradient bites toward 8.91% and forces a gear change. The gap between the 4.01% average and that 8.91% peak — a difference of 4.9% — is the number that defines your effort management.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The 4.01% average is a gradient most riders can hold comfortably below threshold, so the goal is to ride the bulk of the 13.7 km at a controlled, repeatable output and keep something in reserve for the 8.91% ramp. Anchor your effort to your FTP: riding the shallow sections a touch under it lets you absorb the steep pinch without going into the red.

If you are not sure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go. Knowing that figure turns a guessed effort into a planned one — you will know exactly how hard you can push across 13.7 km and still have the legs to cover the 8.91% section without blowing up short of the 866 m summit.

Gearing

For a 550 m ascent at 4.01% average, most riders will be fine on standard endurance gearing, but the 8.91% maximum is where a comfortable ratio pays off. A compact chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear will handle the steep pinch for strong climbers who like to stay seated and spin. If you prefer a lower cadence insurance policy, or you are carrying fatigue into the base at 316 m, a 34×34 gives you that extra margin to keep the pedals turning smoothly all the way to 866 m. Either setup keeps you in control across the full 13.7 km.

Summary

The Golet du Pey rewards patience: a long 13.7 km pull with a gentle 4.01% average that never really lets up, capped by a single 8.91% test before the 866 m summit. Pace it to your FTP, gear for the pinch, and let the 550 m gain come to you.

Length: 13.7 km
Average gradient: 4.01%
Max gradient: 8.91%
Start: 316 m
Summit: 866 m
Net gain: 550 m
Total ascent: 541 m
Category: 2