Colle di Tora

Overview

Colle di Tora is a compact but genuinely testing category 2 climb. Over 6.9 km it averages 6.94%, which places it firmly in the range where a steady rhythm matters more than raw power. From a start elevation of 423 m the road climbs to a 902 m summit, a net gain of 479 m, with 440 m of total ascent once the smaller undulations are accounted for. The gap between the two figures tells you there is a little respite folded into the profile — not everything here goes up. The 10.81% max gradient is the sting in the tail, well above the average and enough to unseat anyone who has spent themselves early.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to hold in your mind is the 6.94% average, but averages hide the story. With a maximum of 10.81%, the steepest ramps sit almost four points above the mean, so expect the climb to arrive in pulses rather than one uniform wall. The fact that net gain (479 m) exceeds total ascent (440 m) is impossible under a monotonic climb — it signals brief flatter or gently pitched sections where you can recover, breathe, and reset your cadence. Treat those eased stretches as gifts: they are where you claw back the effort spent on the double-digit ramps. Ride the shape, not the odometer.

Pacing Notes

Anchor your effort to your sustainable threshold rather than to how the opening slopes feel. A 6.9 km climb at 6.94% is short enough to tempt you into starting hot, but the 10.81% pitches later will punish that. Aim to hold a power just around your FTP on the sustained sections and let it drift slightly above only on the steepest ramps, spending those matches deliberately. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan splits. The recovery pitches — the reason total ascent (440 m) falls short of the 479 m net gain — are your chance to bring heart rate down before the next surge.

Gearing

For a climb touching 10.81%, gear conservatively. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders a comfortable spin on the sustained 6.94% grade, while the wider 34×34 buys extra insurance for the steepest ramps and for tired legs late in a long day. If you climb best seated with a high cadence, favour the 34×34; the marginally lighter gear keeps your rhythm intact when the road bites toward its 10.81% max. There is no prize for grinding an overgeared bike up this one.

Summary

Colle di Tora rewards patience: pace it to your threshold, save something for the 10.81% ramps, and use the built-in recoveries. Short, honest, and steep enough to matter.

Length: 6.9 km
Average gradient: 6.94%
Max gradient: 10.81%
Start: 423 m
Summit: 902 m
Net gain: 479 m
Total ascent: 440 m
Category: 2