Bocca del Tuckett

Overview

Bocca del Tuckett is an HC (hors catégorie) climb, the hardest rung on the categorisation ladder above Category 1, 2, 3 and 4. It measures 25.5 km from base to summit and averages 6.71%, a figure that already marks it as a serious sustained effort. From a start elevation of 691 m the road climbs all the way to 2400 m, a net gain of 1709 m. Over that distance you accumulate 1678 m of total ascent, so this is a climb that goes almost relentlessly upward with very little respite. The 15.73% maximum gradient warns you that the average tells only part of the story.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number here is the near-match between net elevation gain (1709 m) and total ascent (1678 m). The gap between them is only 31 m, which means the descents and flat sections you meet on the way up are trivial — you essentially climb the entire 25.5 km. A 6.71% average across that length would already be punishing if it were uniform, but the 15.73% maximum tells you it is not. Expect long stretches near the average punctuated by pitches that spike toward that maximum, where the road doubles the effort. With a summit at 2400 m, thinner air compounds the difficulty in the final kilometres, so the last portion feels harder than the raw gradient suggests.

Pacing Notes

On a 25.5 km climb, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the temptation to chase the early ramps. Because the average sits at 6.71% but the road hits 15.73%, the smart tactic is to hold a steady sub-threshold power on the moderate sections and only let your effort rise briefly on the steepest pitches, then settle again. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator. With 1709 m of net gain to the 2400 m summit, going into the red early will cost you far more time later than any seconds you save at the bottom.

Gearing

An HC climb of this length and steepness rewards low gearing. For a 15.73% maximum on tired legs near 2400 m, most riders will want a compact setup: a 34×32 is a sensible baseline, giving you a spin-friendly ratio for the sustained 6.71% grind. But given the pitches approaching 15.73% and the sheer 25.5 km of climbing, a 34×34 is the safer choice, preserving cadence and knees when the road bites. If your bike accepts it, err toward the 34×34 — you will rarely regret extra range over 1709 m of ascent.

Summary

Bocca del Tuckett is a full-length HC test: 25.5 km that climb almost without pause from 691 m to 2400 m. The 6.71% average and 15.73% maximum, combined with 1709 m of net gain, demand patient pacing and generous gearing.

Length: 25.5 km
Average gradient: 6.71%
Max gradient: 15.73%
Start: 691 m
Summit: 2400 m
Net gain: 1709 m
Total ascent: 1678 m
Category: HC