Bivio dei Laresi

Overview

Bivio dei Laresi is a hors catégorie climb, the hardest classification a road can carry, and its numbers explain why. Over 10.9 km the route lifts you from 228 m to a summit of 1284 m, a net gain of 1056 m. That works out to an average gradient of 9.71%, a figure that would be brutal for a two-kilometre wall and is almost unheard of sustained across nearly eleven kilometres. There is no coasting here. From the moment the road tilts up, it stays up, and the total ascent of 1045 m confirms there are no meaningful descents to recover on. This is a climb defined by relentlessness rather than a single famous ramp.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 9.71% average tells you the road never truly relents, but averages hide the spikes. The maximum gradient reaches 19.32%, nearly double the average, so expect pitches that force you out of any comfortable rhythm. With 1056 m of net gain across 10.9 km and only 1045 m of total ascent, the profile is essentially one long uphill line — the small difference between net gain and total ascent means the flat or downhill sections are negligible. Practically, that means the steepest ramps arrive without the usual recovery breaks between them. When the gradient jumps toward 19.32%, your legs pay for it immediately, and the road above offers no respite to bank the effort back.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this long, pacing is everything. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power rather than your ego. A good rule of thumb is to hold a percentage of your FTP that you could theoretically maintain for the full 10.9 km — for most riders that means starting conservatively and holding something below threshold, because there is no flat to soft-pedal and reset. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit. On the 19.32% ramps, accept that your power will spike above target; the goal is to keep those surges short and settle back down quickly rather than letting one steep section blow your whole climb apart. Ride the first third within yourself and you will still be pedalling cleanly near the 1284 m summit.

Gearing

For a 10.9 km climb averaging 9.71% with ramps to 19.32%, gear low and gear generously. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible baseline for strong climbers, but on gradients approaching 19.32% many riders will be grateful for the extra range of a 34×34. The difference between 34×32 and 34×34 sounds small, but on the steepest pitches it can be the margin between spinning and grinding to a stall. If your setup allows an even easier ratio, use it — there is no prize for over-gearing a sustained HC climb, and preserving cadence protects both your knees and your finish.

Summary

Bivio dei Laresi is a pure test of sustained climbing: long, uniformly steep, and unforgiving from base to summit. Respect the average, prepare for the 19.32% spikes, and gear low enough to keep turning the pedals all the way to the top.

Length: 10.9 km
Average gradient: 9.71%
Max gradient: 19.32%
Start: 228 m
Summit: 1284 m
Net gain: 1056 m
Total ascent: 1045 m
Category: HC