
The inhumane Mur de Monieux with 21% ramps
France, europe
1.5 km
836 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're in southeastern France, surrounded by the beauty of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, ready for a cycling challenge. Then you meet the Mur de Monieux. This isn't your average hill; it's a beast of a climb packed into just 1.5 kilometers.
You'll start on the D1 at 836 meters above sea level, thinking, "How bad can it be?" Oh, you'll find out! The road is paved, sure, but narrow, and the gradient quickly kicks up. You'll be grinding your gears as you try to conquer the 175-meter elevation gain.
The average gradient is a leg-burning 11.66%, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Prepare for sections hitting over 21%! Trust me, this climb is brutal. Some say it makes even the infamous Sormano feel easy. But the views from the top (661 meters) are worth the pain... maybe.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 1.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 836 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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