Ju de Sant Antone

Overview

Ju de Sant Antone is one of those climbs that leaves no room for negotiation. Over 11.9 km it averages a savage 11.38%, hauling you from a start elevation of 1106 m up to a summit at 2461 m. That is 1355 m of net elevation gain packed into under twelve kilometres — a ratio that puts it firmly in hors catégorie (HC) territory, the hardest rung on the ladder above categories 1 through 4.

The numbers alone tell the story. An 11.38% average is not a climb with a gentle warm-up and a sting in the tail; it is relentless from bottom to top. With a maximum gradient of 29.48%, there are pitches here steep enough to make you question your gearing, your training, and your life choices in roughly that order.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Ju de Sant Antone is its consistency of difficulty. When the average sits at 11.38% and the total ascent is 1299 m, the road simply does not relent. The gap between the 1355 m net gain and the 1299 m of total ascent is small, which tells you the profile climbs almost continuously — there is very little descending or flat to recover on.

The max gradient of 29.48% is the number that will haunt you. Even if the truly extreme pitch is short, ramps well above the 11.38% average appear often enough that you should expect to spend long stretches in your lowest gear. Think of the climb as a series of sustained walls rather than a single steady drag, punctuated by that one wince-inducing 29.48% kick.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is survival. Your FTP is the anchor here: on 11.38% average slopes you cannot coast, so every watt you overspend early is a watt you will not have when the gradient bites. Aim to settle at or just below threshold from the first ramp and hold it — surging on the steep sections is the fastest route to blowing up.

If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. On 1355 m of net climbing you want a wattage you can genuinely sustain for the full duration, not a heroic ten-minute figure that collapses halfway up.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. With an 11.38% average and pitches reaching 29.48%, standard road gearing will grind you to a halt. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the minimum sensible setup. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the shallower stretches, but on the steepest ramps you will be thankful for a 34×34 — the extra sprocket buys you cadence and spares your knees when the road tilts toward that 29.48% maximum. If your frame and derailleur allow anything easier still, use it; there is no shame in spinning on a climb like this.

Summary

Ju de Sant Antone is a pure HC test of climbing endurance: short in distance, merciless in pitch, and unforgiving from the 1106 m start to the 2461 m summit. Gear low, pace to your threshold, and respect the gradient.

Length: 11.9 km
Average gradient: 11.38%
Max gradient: 29.48%
Start: 1106 m
Summit: 2461 m
Net gain: 1355 m
Total ascent: 1299 m
Category: HC