Capannelle Pass

Overview

Capannelle Pass is a Category 2 climb in Italy that runs for 11 km from a valley start at 683 m to a summit at 1300 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 617 m at an average gradient of 5.62%. On paper that reads like a steady mid-tier effort: long enough to demand pacing, but with a headline gradient that sits comfortably below the double-digit territory of the marquee passes.

The average, though, undersells the work. The total ascent on this climb is 986 m against a net gain of only 617 m. That 369 m mismatch is undulation: pitches you climb, descend, and climb again. Every metre of that hidden ascent is effort your legs pay for but your net-elevation math ignores. Treat this as a climb with meaningful rolling terrain, not a uniform ramp, and budget energy for the extra 369 m accordingly.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 5.62% average on a climb that stacks 986 m of total ascent into 617 m of net gain tells you the road does not climb evenly. The gentle mean is smoothed out by descents and flatter breathers; the real work is concentrated in the steeper pitches, where the gradient spikes as high as 22.44%.

Expect the profile to break down roughly like this:

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly tips downhill, resetting the average
• Repeated short climbs that each claw back elevation, then hand some of it back before the next ramp
• The steepest ramp at 22.44%, four times the average, where you'll need to shift down early and hold form

Pacing Notes

On a smooth, uniform climb you can chase even-speed pacing. Capannelle Pass is not that climb. With this much undulation, even-speed pacing forces you to spike your power on every steep ramp and coast on every descent, which burns matches fast. Ride to even effort instead: hold a steady, sustainable power target and let your speed rise and fall with the road.

Anchor that target to your sustainable power output rather than to feel, which drifts on rolling terrain. If you don't know your number, run the FTP estimator before you go and set a ceiling you can hold for the full 11 km, including the 22.44% ramp and the extra 369 m of rolling ascent.

Gearing

Gear for the steepest ramp, not the average. A 22.44% pitch will punish an under-geared setup, especially deep into the 986 m of total ascent when your legs are tired. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a low enough gear to spin that ramp at a sustainable cadence instead of grinding to a stall. Check your chainring and cassette combination before the ride so you're not discovering a gap on the road.

Summary

• Length: 11 km
• Average gradient: 5.62%
• Maximum gradient: 22.44%
• Net elevation gain: 617 m
• Total ascent: 986 m
• Category: 2

Capannelle Pass rewards riders who read the profile, not just the average. Pace to even effort, gear for the 22.44% ramp, and respect the 369 m of hidden ascent hidden inside its rolling terrain.