Port de Balès

At an average cycling pace, Port de Balès takes between 81 and 113 minutes to complete. The 18.9km climb with its 6.3% average gradient means riders with a higher FTP can push the pace significantly. In Climb Quest, your actual time depends on your real power output.

A moderate FTP of around 178W (watts) is a reasonable starting point for Port de Balès. However, the climb has sections reaching 14% gradient, so a higher FTP will make those sections much more manageable. Beginners can still attempt it — just at a slower pace.

The maximum gradient on Port de Balès reaches 14%, which is significantly steeper than the 6.3% average. These sections require the most power and are where riders typically need to shift to their easiest gears. Climb Quest shows the full gradient profile so you can plan where to conserve energy.

Yes — Port de Balès is available in Climb Quest for any FTMS-compatible smart trainer (Wahoo KICKR, Tacx NEO, Elite Suito, and more). The app automatically adjusts resistance to match the real-world gradient at every point of the 18.9km climb, giving you an authentic simulation of riding outdoors in France.

Yes — every time you finish Port de Balès in Climb Quest, you earn a scratch card trophy for this climb. Rub the card to reveal your rarity tier: Standard, Bronze (top 50%), Silver (top 25%), Gold (top 10% after 10+ attempts), or the ultra-rare Legendary Holographic (beat the climb record or reach the top 1% after 100+ attempts). Your card is added to your personal Trophy Cabinet.

Port de Balès is part of the Climb Quest world climb library, and is featured in the French Alps & Pyrenees collection . Complete all climbs in a collection to earn that collection's badge. Build your Trophy Cabinet and prove you conquered some of the world's greatest climbs.