La Chavanette

La Chavanette cycling climb profile

La Chavanette is an HC climb where the headline average only tells part of the story. At 24.7 km with an average gradient of 6.06%, it sits in the category of climbs that punish pacing errors less through one single wall and more through the accumulated cost of a long, sustained effort.

The climb starts at 415 m and tops out at 1909 m, gaining 1494 m net. Total ascent is listed at 1552 m, which matters because it tells you the road is not a perfectly clean, linear rise from bottom to summit. There is some extra climbing beyond the simple difference between start and finish elevation, so any easing in the road should be treated as a place to recover without fully switching off.

How the gradient rides

With only the full-climb average and maximum gradient available, the safest read is macro rather than sector-by-sector. The 6.06% average suggests a climb that can feel manageable early if ridden under control, but the 18.21% maximum gradient changes the pacing equation. You are not just preparing for a long tempo climb. You are preparing for a long climb with at least one very steep section capable of forcing a sharp power spike if you arrive overgeared or already above threshold.

That combination is what makes La Chavanette difficult. A 24.7 km climb gives plenty of time for small mistakes to compound. Riding slightly too hard on the lower slopes may not feel costly at first, but once the road pitches into the steepest gradients, the margin disappears quickly. On a climb this long, the best riders are usually not the ones who can produce the biggest single surge. They are the ones who keep the steepest moments from blowing apart the whole effort.

Pacing and gearing notes

Pace La Chavanette as a controlled endurance-threshold effort rather than a climb to attack from the base. Use the opening kilometres to settle into a sustainable rhythm, especially if riding by /glossary/ftp or perceived exertion. The goal is to arrive at the steeper ramps with enough reserve to keep cadence moving rather than being forced into low-cadence grinding.

Gearing should be chosen for the 18.21% maximum, not the 6.06% average. If your easiest gear only feels comfortable on steady mid-gradient roads, it will likely feel too large when the climb reaches its steepest pitch. A compact or climbing-oriented setup is the practical choice for most riders, particularly if the climb comes after prior fatigue.

The tactical rule is simple: let the average gradient guide the overall effort, but let the maximum gradient dictate the equipment. La Chavanette rewards patience, smooth torque control, and the discipline to save the real effort for the sections where the road leaves you no choice.