Baisse de Druos / Bassa del Druos

Overview

The Baisse de Druos, or Bassa del Druos, is a hors catégorie climb that asks for everything you have and then a little more. At 32.6 km it is not a punchy wall but a sustained, high-altitude campaign: you start at 488 m and do not stop rising until you crest at 2580 m. That is a net gain of 2092 m, with a total ascent of 2049 m once the small dips are accounted for. The average gradient reads 6.42%, but on a climb this long that number hides a lot of variation, and the 16.7% max tells you the road has real teeth in places.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure — 6.42% over 32.6 km — describes a road that trends relentlessly upward rather than one that hits you with a single savage ramp. Because net gain (2092 m) slightly exceeds total ascent (2049 m)… actually the reverse: the 2092 m net gain against 2049 m of climbing tells you the profile is almost purely uphill, with only minor false flats and next to no descending to recover on. Expect long stretches near the 6.42% average punctuated by steeper pitches that spike toward 16.7%. Those steep sections are where the climb bites hardest, and at altitude, above 2000 m as you near the 2580 m summit, thinner air makes every one of them cost more than the raw gradient suggests.

Pacing Notes

On a 32.6 km effort, pacing is the whole game. Ride the first two-thirds well under threshold — treat your FTP as a ceiling you touch only on the 16.7% ramps, never a target you sit at. If you do not know your number, run it through the FTP estimator before you go, then set a wattage cap you can hold for well over two hours. Averaging 6.42% for this distance means a steady, repeatable effort beats heroics; the 2092 m of gain will punish anyone who empties the tank before the final altitude stretch above 2000 m.

Gearing

Gear for survival, not pride. With a 6.42% average dragged out over 32.6 km and pitches touching 16.7%, you want an easy bailout gear ready. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 setup is a sensible floor for strong climbers, but most riders will be far happier with 34×34, which keeps cadence up on the steep ramps and protects the legs across a climb that gains 2092 m. If your bike allows an even larger cassette, take it — nobody regrets a spare gear at 2580 m.

Summary

The Baisse de Druos / Bassa del Druos is a true hors catégorie test: 32.6 km, 6.42% average, and 2092 m of net gain from valley floor to a 2580 m summit. Pace it patiently, gear it generously, and respect the altitude.

Length: 32.6 km
Average gradient: 6.42%
Max gradient: 16.7%
Start: 488 m
Summit: 2580 m
Net gain: 2092 m
Total ascent: 2049 m
Category: HC