Colle della Crocetta

Overview

Colle della Crocetta is an hors catégorie ascent that earns its rank on length and gradient alike. It runs 17.4 km from a base at 667 m to a summit of 2088 m, delivering 1421 m of net elevation gain along the way. The average gradient is a relentless 8.14%, and the road bites hardest at a peak of 30.29%. This is a climb that never lets you settle: there is no false-flat kilometre to hide in, no gentle run-in to warm the legs. From the first pedal stroke you are climbing, and you keep climbing for the better part of an hour and a half.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is the 8.14% average, but averages flatten out the real story. With a maximum pitch of 30.29%, the road here is far steeper than any average suggests, and the difference between mean and maximum tells you the surface pitches sharply in places. Over 17.4 km the climb stacks up 1364 m of total ascent — slightly less than the 1421 m net gain, which means the route is almost entirely uphill with only trivial respite. Expect long sustained stretches near the average, punctuated by ramps that spike well into double digits. Ride within yourself early, because the steepest sections can arrive with your reserves already thinned.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. The sustained 8.14% grade means power management matters more than raw strength. Aim to hold an effort just under threshold for the sustained sections, and keep something in reserve for the ramps toward that 30.29% maximum, where you may be forced well above your sustainable output for short bursts. If you know your FTP, target roughly 75-85% of it for the bulk of the climb, letting the steep pitches push you briefly higher. Don't chase the steep ramps with a big surge — absorb them, then recover on the shallower sections. If you're unsure of your numbers, run them through the FTP estimator before you commit to a plan on a 17.4 km effort.

Gearing

An HC climb averaging 8.14% with pitches to 30.29% demands generous gearing. A compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will cover most riders on the sustained sections, but the moment the road tips toward its 30.29% maximum you'll be grateful for anything easier. For that reason, favour a 34×34 if your derailleur can handle it — the extra range buys you a lower cadence floor exactly where you need it, on the ramps that would otherwise wrench you out of the saddle. Over 1421 m of net gain, spinning a lower gear preserves the legs for the full 17.4 km.

Summary

Colle della Crocetta is a genuine HC test: long, unremitting, and steep enough at its worst to break a poorly judged pace. Respect the 8.14% average, prepare for the 30.29% maximum, gear low, and pace with discipline from the 667 m base to the 2088 m summit.

Length: 17.4 km
Average gradient: 8.14%
Max gradient: 30.29%
Start: 667 m
Summit: 2088 m
Net gain: 1421 m
Total ascent: 1364 m
Category: HC