Col de l'Encarnette

Overview

The Col de l'Encarnette is a genuine hors catégorie test, and the numbers leave no doubt about it. From a valley floor at 412 m, the road climbs for 21.3 km to a summit at 1902 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 1490 m. Add in the dips and false flats along the way and the total ascent comes to 1556 m — meaning you actually climb 66 m more than the raw start-to-summit difference suggests. The average gradient of 6.99% sounds civilised on paper, but that figure hides a max pitch of 29.67%, one of the steepest ramps you will meet on any categorised road. This is a climb of endurance first and brute strength second.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.99% average across 21.3 km is a long, sustained effort by any measure — this is not a short, sharp wall but a climb that asks for a full hour or more of steady work from most riders. The gap between the 6.99% average and the 29.67% maximum tells the real story: somewhere on this road the tarmac kicks up to nearly four times the average steepness. Because total ascent (1556 m) exceeds net gain (1490 m), the profile is not perfectly linear. Expect stretches that ease off, brief descents or flatter recovery sections, and then compensating ramps that claw the gradient back well above average. Ride the average and the steep sections will hurt; read the road and save something for them.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing discipline decides your day. The smartest approach is to anchor your effort to a percentage of your FTP rather than chasing a fixed speed, since the gradient swings so widely around its 6.99% mean. Settle into a sustainable tempo on the moderate sections and accept that the ramp toward 29.67% will spike your power far above threshold — that is unavoidable, so keep those surges as short and controlled as you can. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit, then aim to hold a touch below threshold across the bulk of the 21.3 km so you still have legs when the steepest pitch arrives.

Gearing

Gear for the max, not the average. With pitches touching 29.67% and 1490 m of climbing to grind through, most riders will want the widest ratio their bike allows. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible baseline for strong climbers, but for the near-30% ramp and the fatigue that 1556 m of total ascent brings, stepping down to 34×34 gives you the extra spin to keep your cadence up and your knees intact. If your rear derailleur can handle it, err toward the easier end — you will never regret a bailout gear on an HC climb.

Summary

The Col de l'Encarnette earns its hors catégorie badge honestly: long, sustained, and capped by a brutal maximum pitch. Pace it by effort, gear it for survival, and respect every one of its 21.3 km.

Length: 21.3 km
Average gradient: 6.99%
Max gradient: 29.67%
Start: 412 m
Summit: 1902 m
Net gain: 1490 m
Total ascent: 1556 m
Category: HC