Cima Dante

Overview

Cima Dante is a category 3 climb that covers 7.6 km at an average gradient of 4.37%. It begins low, at 59 m of elevation, and tops out at 390 m, delivering 331 m of net elevation gain along the way. The total ascent registers slightly lower at 313 m, which tells you the road doesn't climb in one unbroken line — there are short easings, and perhaps a brief dip or two, where you lose a few metres before clawing them back.

At just under 4.4% on average, this is a steady, rideable climb rather than a leg-breaker. But the numbers hide a sting: the steepest ramp reaches 10.76%, nearly two and a half times the average. That single figure is the difference between a climb you can spin all day and one that demands you pick your moments.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of Cima Dante as a climb of two personalities. The 4.37% average is the temperament you'll feel across most of the 7.6 km — a gradient gentle enough to hold a rhythm and even carry some speed. The 10.76% max is the exception, a pitch where the road stands up sharply.

Because the net gain (331 m) exceeds the total ascent (313 m) only after accounting for descents, you can expect the profile to flatten in places. Those flatter sectors are where the average gets diluted: to still finish at 4.37% overall, the climbing pitches must be steeper than the mean to compensate. Read that as a warning to keep something in reserve for the double-digit ramp rather than burning your matches on the mellow lower slopes.

Pacing Notes

For a climb this length and gradient, the smart approach is to ride to your sustainable power rather than to the terrain. Anchor your effort to your FTP: aim to hold a touch below threshold on the steady 4.37% stretches so you have headroom when the gradient spikes toward 10.76%.

If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before your next attempt — pacing a 7.6 km climb is far easier when you know the wattage you can actually hold to the summit at 390 m. Start conservatively over the first kilometres from 59 m; the climb rewards a negative split more than a fast, ragged opening.

Gearing

At 4.37% average with a 10.76% max, most riders will be comfortable on a compact setup. A 34×32 gives you enough range to spin the steady sections without over-gearing, and it keeps your cadence honest on the approach to the steepest ramp.

If you tend to grind, run heavy legs late in a ride, or simply prefer to sit and twiddle, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket buys you cadence exactly where the gradient touches double digits, turning the hardest pitch from a struggle into a manageable seated effort.

Summary

Cima Dante is an honest category 3: long enough to matter at 7.6 km, gentle enough at 4.37% to ride smart, with a 10.76% ramp that keeps you honest.

Length: 7.6 km
Average gradient: 4.37%
Max gradient: 10.76%
Start: 59 m
Summit: 390 m
Net gain: 331 m
Total ascent: 313 m
Category: 3