Col de Pau

Overview

The Col de Pau is a Category 1 climb that asks for patience as much as power. Over 13.7 km it averages a stiff 7.43%, lifting you from a start elevation of 927 m to a summit at 1948 m. That works out to 1021 m of net elevation gain, with a total ascent of 1867 m once you account for the small dips and false flats along the way — the difference between those two figures tells you this road doesn't climb in a perfectly straight line.

At more than 13 km with a sustained gradient in the mid-sevens, this is a serious effort. It sits one rung below hors catégorie, and on the day it will feel every bit worthy of its Cat-1 billing.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to keep in mind is the 7.43% average. On a climb this long, that average is a promise, not a comfort: it means long stretches will hover right around it, with steeper ramps balanced by short recoveries.

The gap between the 1867 m total ascent and the 1021 m net gain is the key detail here. On a flawless, always-up climb those two numbers would match. The 846 m difference between them means the road repeatedly gives a little back before climbing again — brief descents or flats that reset your rhythm and, if you let them, your pacing. Treat those easier metres as recovery, not as an invitation to surge.

Pacing Notes

On a 13.7 km climb, discipline beats bravado. Your best tool is your FTP — the power you can sustain for roughly an hour. Because the Col de Pau will take most riders well beyond a short, punchy effort, riding just under threshold from the base gives you the margin to hold form all the way to 1948 m.

If you don't know your number, run the FTP estimator before you plan the climb. Once you have it, resist the temptation to chase the steep ramps. Every match burned early on a 7.43% average is one you won't have for the final kilometres, where fatigue makes the same gradient feel considerably harder.

Gearing

For a sustained 7.43% over 13.7 km, gear low and gear generously. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the sensible foundation. Paired with a 34×32, most fit riders will spin comfortably through the bulk of the climb without grinding.

If you're carrying luggage, riding at altitude near the 1948 m summit, or simply want to protect your legs on a climb with more than 1800 m of ascent, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive on the steeper pitches and turns a survival grind into a manageable rhythm. There is no penalty for spinning here — on a climb this long, cadence is your ally.

Summary

The Col de Pau is a long, honest Category 1 test: 13.7 km of climbing at 7.43%, delivering you to a high 1948 m summit. Pace it below threshold, gear low, and let the 7.43% average dictate your effort rather than the steep ramps.

Length: 13.7 km
Average gradient: 7.43%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 927 m
Summit: 1948 m
Net gain: 1021 m
Total ascent: 1867 m
Category: 1