Colle di Pace

Overview

Colle di Pace is a category-2 climb that packs a genuine sting into a compact 5.3 km. From a start elevation of 412 m it rises to a summit of 756 m, a net gain of 344 m at an average gradient of 6.49%. On paper that average reads as steady tempo work, but averages hide the real story here: with a maximum pitch of 17.17%, this is a climb that swings hard between rhythm and struggle. It is short enough to attack yet steep enough to punish anyone who misjudges the effort. Think of it as a concentrated test rather than a long war of attrition.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 6.49% average and the 17.17% maximum tells you almost everything about the shape of this climb. A near-11-point spread between mean and peak means the road does not hold a constant angle for long. Expect stretches close to or below the average that let you settle, broken by sharp ramps that spike toward that 17.17% ceiling. Those steep kicks are where the climb is won or lost. Because the total distance is only 5.3 km, there is little room to recover between the hard efforts, so each ramp arrives while your legs are still carrying the last one. The net gain of 344 m over 5.3 km confirms the overall pitch is honest and unrelenting for a category-2 ascent.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this short and this punchy, pacing is about protecting your steep-ramp reserves. Ride the shallower sections at or slightly below your FTP, then allow yourself to surge over the 17.17% pitches rather than trying to hold a rigidly even power number. Going too deep early leaves nothing for the ramps, and on a 5.3 km climb there is no long false-flat to bail you out. If you are unsure what number to anchor to, run your figures through the FTP estimator first and set a target you can defend all the way to 756 m. The 344 m of vertical gain is small enough that a controlled, slightly-above-threshold effort is realistic for a strong rider.

Gearing

With ramps reaching 17.17%, compact gearing is strongly recommended. A 34×32 will get most fit riders over the steep pitches while keeping cadence respectable on the 6.49% average sections. If you climb at lower power, prefer to spin, or want insurance for the worst ramps late in the 5.3 km, step up to a 34×34 and thank yourself on the steepest kicks. The extra range costs you nothing on the shallower stretches and buys real headroom where the road bites hardest. Erring toward the easier ratio is the safer call on a climb defined by its spikes.

Summary

Colle di Pace rewards riders who respect its ramps and pace with discipline. Short, sharp, and honest, it earns its category-2 rating through gradient rather than length.

Length: 5.3 km
Average gradient: 6.49%
Max gradient: 17.17%
Start: 412 m
Summit: 756 m
Net gain: 344 m
Total ascent: 332 m
Category: 2