Bocchetta degli Alpini

Overview

Bocchetta degli Alpini is a genuine hors catégorie ascent, and the numbers make no attempt to hide it. Over 16 km the road lifts you from a start elevation of 267 m to a summit at 1555 m — a net gain of 1288 m at an average gradient of 8.06%. That average alone would rank it among the hardest climbs you can attempt, but the 23.67% maximum gradient tells you the story is not a smooth one. This is a long climb with real teeth, the kind of effort that rewards patience early and punishes anyone who spends too much too soon.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 8.06% average across 16 km is relentless on its own, but the gap between that figure and the 23.67% max is where the climb earns its category. With total ascent measured at 1264 m against a net gain of 1288 m, the road climbs almost continuously — there is very little coasting or false descent to recover on. Expect the pitch to hover around and above the average for long stretches, then spike toward that 23.67% wall where the gradient briefly triples the effort. The shape favours a steady, sustained rhythm broken by short, sharp survival sections rather than any single decisive slope.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something in reserve, because at 16 km you cannot bluff your way to a 1555 m summit. Ride the 8.06% sections just under threshold and treat the 23.67% ramp as a moment to survive, not to attack — let cadence drop, stay seated where you can, and reconnect with your rhythm the instant the road relents. If you are unsure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit, then pace the first half conservatively. The final metres of 1288 m of gain are always won by whoever paced the first two-thirds correctly.

Gearing

Do not underestimate what an HC climb averaging 8.06% with a 23.67% max demands of your drivetrain. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible foundation. Pair it with at least a 34×32 for the sustained gradient, but given that spike toward 23.67%, a 34×34 is the wiser choice for most riders — that extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive on the steepest ramp instead of forcing a grinding, knee-straining slog. If your legs are anything short of professional, err toward the easier ratio; you will be thankful across all 16 km.

Summary

Bocchetta degli Alpini is a complete HC test: 16 km of climbing at 8.06%, a 23.67% max that bites hard, and 1288 m of net gain from base to summit. Pace it honestly, gear it generously, and respect the distance.

Length: 16 km
Average gradient: 8.06%
Max gradient: 23.67%
Start: 267 m
Summit: 1555 m
Net gain: 1288 m
Total ascent: 1264 m
Category: HC