Ballino Pass

Overview

Ballino Pass is a category 2 climb that rewards patience over raw power. At 14.1 km, it is long enough to demand a real strategy, yet its 4.88% average keeps it firmly in the sustainable range for most trained riders. The road begins at 82 m and tops out at 769 m, a summit elevation that gives it genuine mountain character without ever tipping into the brutal territory of an HC ascent. Net elevation gain is 687 m, while total ascent measures 677 m — the small difference hinting at a few flatter or even downhill sections stitched into the overall rise. This is a climb about rhythm, not survival.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is a moderate 4.88%, but averages hide the story. With a maximum gradient of 8.93%, Ballino Pass clearly stacks its difficulty into steeper ramps that sit well above the mean. Expect the climb to breathe: stretches near or below the average where you can settle into a steady cadence, punctuated by sharper pitches approaching 8.93% that force a gear change and a brief effort above threshold. Because the total ascent (677 m) sits just under the net gain (687 m), the profile is broadly relentless in one direction, with only minor relief. Over 14.1 km, the trick is reading each ramp early so a steep section never catches you spinning out of gears.

Pacing Notes

For a climb of this length and gradient, pacing to your sustainable effort is everything. Anchor your target power to your FTP and aim to hold the flatter 4.88% sections comfortably below it, banking headroom for the ramps toward 8.93% where surging is unavoidable. If you do not know your number, run a quick estimate through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. A 14.1 km effort at 4.88% average typically means twenty-plus minutes of continuous climbing, so resist the temptation to attack the lower slopes — the 687 m of gain will find you eventually, and it punishes riders who spend early.

Gearing

Given the 14.1 km length and pitches reaching 8.93%, generous gearing pays off. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will handle the 4.88% average and most of the steeper sections for riders with solid climbing legs, letting you keep a smooth cadence rather than grinding. If you weigh more, ride at lower fitness, or simply want insurance against the 8.93% ramps late in the climb, drop to a 34×34 — the extra range keeps your knees happy across all 687 m of gain and makes the summit at 769 m feel earned rather than survived.

Summary

Ballino Pass is a long, honest category 2 climb: moderate on average, spiky in places, and best approached with a controlled, steady effort. Get your pacing and gearing right and the 769 m summit arrives with plenty in the tank.

Length: 14.1 km
Average gradient: 4.88%
Max gradient: 8.93%
Start: 82 m
Summit: 769 m
Net gain: 687 m
Total ascent: 677 m
Category: 2