Col du Scimi

Overview

Col du Scimi is a long, serious ascent that earns its Category 1 rating through sheer duration rather than any single trick. Over 16.7 km the road lifts you from a start elevation of 205 m to a summit at 1245 m — a net gain of 1040 m against 1004 m of total ascent, which tells you the climb is very nearly relentless upward with almost no relief to give the legs back.

At an average gradient of 6.24%, this is a climb you settle into, not one you sprint. But the average hides the story: a maximum pitch of 31.42% waits somewhere on the road, a wall so steep it changes how you plan the entire effort.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The near-identical net gain and total ascent — 1040 m versus 1004 m — mean the profile barely dips. There are no false flats to coast through and no descents to recover on; almost every metre you climb, you keep.

The 6.24% average is a sustainable rhythm, roughly the tempo of a long tempo effort. The danger is the spread around it. With a max of 31.42%, the climb clearly stacks its difficulty into short, brutal ramps that sit far above the mean. For every stretch pitching past 30%, there must be gentler sections pulling the average back toward 6.24%. Plan for a climb of two moods: long steady grades punctuated by savage kickers.

Pacing Notes

Because Scimi is 16.7 km long, discipline early is everything. Ride the opening kilometres well under threshold — the summit at 1245 m is a long way off, and the 31.42% ramp will demand every watt you have left when it arrives.

Anchor your pacing to your FTP. On the 6.24% steady sections, aim to sit just below threshold so you bank energy; on the steep ramps, accept that you will briefly spike well over FTP simply to keep the wheels turning. That is fine on a wall this steep — just don't let it become your default.

If you're unsure of your current numbers, run them through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. Over 1040 m of climbing, a pacing error compounds.

Gearing

Gear for the wall, not the average. A 6.24% mean is comfortable on almost anything, but the 31.42% maximum will crush an under-geared drivetrain. A 34×32 is the sensible floor here, and only if you have strong climbing legs and can turn a big gear at low cadence on the steepest metres.

For most riders tackling all 16.7 km with fresh-legs pacing in mind, go further: a 34×34 buys you the cadence to survive the steepest ramps without wrenching your knees or blowing your pacing apart. On a Category 1 climb with pitches past 30%, the extra sprocket is not indulgence — it is what keeps you spinning to 1245 m instead of grinding to a halt.

Summary

Col du Scimi is a Category 1 test of endurance and steep-ramp survival: 16.7 km of near-continuous climbing at 6.24%, spiked by a 31.42% wall, delivering you 1040 m higher than where you began. Pace it patiently, gear it generously, and respect the ramps.

Length: 16.7 km
Average gradient: 6.24%
Max gradient: 31.42%
Start: 205 m
Summit: 1245 m
Net gain: 1040 m
Total ascent: 1004 m
Category: 1