Aceretta pass

Overview

The Aceretta pass is a long, patient category-1 climb — the kind of ascent that rewards rhythm over aggression. Over its full 26 km it gains 1164 m of net elevation, lifting you from a valley floor at 373 m to a summit at 1537 m. The average gradient reads a moderate 4.48%, which on paper looks almost gentle, but the length is the real adversary here. A climb of this scale asks for well over an hour of sustained effort even for strong riders, and the modest average hides steeper stretches where the road ramps up toward 9.45%.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to internalise is the gap between the 4.48% average and the 9.45% maximum. That spread tells you this is not an evenly graded highway — it undulates. Long shallow drags where the gradient sits below the average let you spin and recover, and they're punctuated by steeper kickers that spike toward that 9.45% figure. Notice too the difference between the 1164 m net gain and the 1190 m of total ascent: those 26 extra metres of climbing mean the road briefly gives elevation back before clawing it up again. Expect false-flat sections and short descents woven into the climb, so your power output will pulse rather than hold flat across the full 26 km.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline early is everything. Anchor your effort to your sustainable threshold: riding just below your FTP on the shallower drags and allowing brief surges over it on the ramps toward 9.45% is a far more efficient strategy than blowing your matches in the first few kilometres. With 1164 m to gain, going out too hard at the bottom guarantees a painful final third. If you're unsure of your threshold number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your target power. Aim to arrive at the 1537 m summit with something left, not scraping across the line.

Gearing

For a 26 km climb topping out at 9.45%, gear low and give yourself options. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front end. Pair it with a wide cassette: 34×32 is the minimum most riders will want for keeping cadence on the steeper kickers, and 34×34 is the smart choice if you're carrying fatigue, riding at altitude near the 1537 m summit, or simply prefer to spin rather than grind. The extra range costs you nothing on the shallow sections and buys real relief when the gradient bites.

Summary

The Aceretta pass is a genuine endurance test — 26 km and 1164 m of climbing at a deceptively moderate 4.48% average, with ramps to 9.45% that punish riders who set off too eagerly. Pace it steadily, gear low, and let the length work with you rather than against you.

Length: 26 km
Average gradient: 4.48%
Max gradient: 9.45%
Start: 373 m
Summit: 1537 m
Net gain: 1164 m
Total ascent: 1190 m
Category: 1