Bocchetta del Bolettone

Overview

Bocchetta del Bolettone is a category 1 climb that asks for genuine respect. Over 16.1 km it averages 6.81%, lifting you from a start elevation of 204 m to a summit at 1303 m. That is a net elevation gain of 1099 m, with 1080 m of total ascent recorded along the way, confirming this is an almost relentlessly upward road with little in the way of recovery descents. The headline number, though, is the 29.75% maximum gradient — a wall steep enough to reshape how you approach the entire effort. This is a long, sustained climb with a sting, and getting to the top comfortably is as much about pacing discipline as raw fitness.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.81% average tells only part of the story. Spread across 16.1 km, that figure implies long stretches sitting close to or just above the mean — steady, grinding, honest climbing that rewards rhythm. But the 29.75% max gradient means at least one pitch spikes to more than four times the average. A ramp that severe cannot be paced through in the same gear or cadence as the rest of the road; it forces a deliberate change of tactic. Expect the climb to feel like two efforts stitched together: the sustained body of the ascent, where the average dominates, and the moment the road rears up and demands everything at once. With only 1080 m of total ascent against 1099 m of net gain, there are essentially no false flats or dips to hide in — the elevation you gain, you keep.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a sustainable percentage of it through the steady 6.81% sections rather than chasing early feelings. If you are unsure of your number, run it through the FTP estimator before you ride so your target watts reflect reality. The trap here is the 29.75% ramp: hit it already deep into the red and it will crack you regardless of how strong the first two-thirds felt. Bank a small cushion, keep your cadence smooth, and treat the steepest pitch as a short, controlled surge rather than an all-out sprint. With 1099 m of vertical to absorb, an even effort will carry you far higher up the mountain than a fast start.

Gearing

Gear for the worst pitch, not the average. A 29.75% ramp punishes anyone under-geared, so give yourself a genuine bailout. A 34×32 setup is the sensible baseline for the sustained 6.81% grind and will get most riders through the body of the climb turning a workable cadence. For that near-30% wall — and for anyone carrying fatigue over 16.1 km — a 34×34 is the smarter insurance, keeping your legs spinning rather than grinding to a stall. If your bike can take it, go wider still; you will never regret an easier gear on a 1099 m ascent.

Summary

Bocchetta del Bolettone is a category 1 test of endurance and composure: a long, steady climb crowned by a brutally steep ramp. Pace it to your FTP, gear low, and respect the 29.75% pitch.

Length: 16.1 km
Average gradient: 6.81%
Max gradient: 29.75%
Start: 204 m
Summit: 1303 m
Net gain: 1099 m
Total ascent: 1080 m
Category: 1