Bocchetta delle Corde

Overview

Bocchetta delle Corde is an hors catégorie climb, the hardest classification on the scale that runs HC, 1, 2, 3, 4. It stretches 19.9 km and averages a brutal 8.58%, hauling you from a start elevation of 176 m up to a summit at 1887 m. That is a net elevation gain of 1711 m, with a total ascent of 1697 m once the small dips along the way are counted. With a maximum pitch of 17.01%, this is a climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke — there is no easing into it, and there is no coasting your way out.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the arithmetic and the scale of this thing becomes clear: nearly 20 km of climbing at an average approaching 8.6% almost never lets up. The gap between the 8.58% average and the 17.01% maximum tells you the story — this is not a steady, metronomic drag but a road that rears up well above its own mean in the steepest sections. When the gradient more than doubles the average, even strong riders are forced out of the saddle. Expect the hardest ramps to arrive when your legs are already deep into the 1711 m of vertical, because on a climb this long the cruelest pitches always feel steeper than the number suggests.

Pacing Notes

The single most important rule here is to start conservatively. At 19.9 km you are looking at a sustained effort measured in the tens of minutes, so anchoring your pace to your FTP is essential — going out even slightly too hard in the first few kilometres will cost you dearly by the summit. On a climb averaging 8.58%, aim to sit just under threshold on the steady sections and spend your matches only on the ramps toward 17.01%, where holding the same power simply isn't possible. If you don't know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan your effort. Fuel early and often; 1711 m of gain is a long time under load, and a bonk on the upper slopes turns a hard day into a survival crawl.

Gearing

Gear for the steep ramps, not the average. On an HC climb topping out at 17.01%, most riders will want a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 is the sensible minimum, and even that will feel tall when the road hits its steepest pitch. If you have any doubt about your climbing legs — or you're carrying fatigue from earlier in the ride — fit a 34×34 and thank yourself later. The extra range costs you nothing on the average slopes and buys you a rideable cadence exactly where the 8.58% average balloons toward its 17.01% peak. Spinning a low gear beats grinding a big one over 19.9 km every single time.

Summary

Bocchetta delle Corde is a genuine hors catégorie test: long, relentless, and steep enough in places to break your rhythm entirely. Pace it off your threshold, gear low, fuel early, and treat the summit — not the start — as the finish line.

Length: 19.9 km
Average gradient: 8.58%
Max gradient: 17.01%
Start: 176 m
Summit: 1887 m
Net gain: 1711 m
Total ascent: 1697 m
Category: HC