Colle di San Lorenzo

Overview

Colle di San Lorenzo is a category 3 ascent that packs a genuinely rideable challenge into a compact 5.3 km. From a base at 242 m, the road lifts you to a summit of 473 m, a net gain of 231 m at an average gradient of 4.34%. On paper that average reads gentle, and for much of the climb it is — but the 7.25% maximum tells you the road is not perfectly uniform. This is a climb you can attack with confidence: long enough to demand a rhythm, short enough that a strong effort never spills into the deep suffering of an HC monster. It is the kind of ascent where good pacing is rewarded and impatience is quietly punished.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of San Lorenzo is the gap between its 4.34% average and its 7.25% peak. Because the recorded total ascent is 208 m against a net gain of 231 m, the profile is close to a clean, one-directional climb with little in the way of descending relief — nearly everything you gain, you keep. Expect the gradient to hover around and just below the average for long stretches, then stiffen toward that 7.25% pinch. Those steeper ramps are where the climb earns its category 3 badge. Read the road ahead: when the surface tilts up, resist the urge to match it with a sprint, and let the easier sections do the recovery work they were made for.

Pacing Notes

Treat San Lorenzo as a sustained tempo effort rather than a series of surges. At 5.3 km, most riders will be climbing for a meaningful block of time, so hold an intensity you can carry from bottom to top. Anchor your effort to your FTP — sitting a touch below threshold on the 4.34% sections leaves headroom for the 7.25% ramps without redlining early. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you ride so your target watts reflect your current form. The trap here is the modest average: it invites you to start hard, then the steeper pitches arrive and the tank is already low. Start controlled, spend your matches on the ramps, and finish strong.

Gearing

For a climb topping out at 7.25%, most riders will be comfortable on a compact setup. A 34×32 gives you a low enough ratio to spin the steeper pitches without grinding, and it keeps your cadence high across the gentler 4.34% majority. If you favour a lighter touch, run out of legs on longer days, or simply prefer to sit and spin, a 34×34 adds a welcome bailout gear for the 7.25% sections. Neither ratio is overkill on a category 3 of this length — pick the one that lets you keep your cadence smooth rather than muscling the pedals.

Summary

Colle di San Lorenzo is an honest, approachable category 3 climb: steady enough to reward smart pacing, steep enough in places to keep you honest. Anchor your effort, gear for the pinches, and enjoy a summit that feels earned.

Length: 5.3 km
Average gradient: 4.34%
Max gradient: 7.25%
Start: 242 m
Summit: 473 m
Net gain: 231 m
Total ascent: 208 m
Category: 3