Colletto Canosio

Overview

Colletto Canosio is a Category 1 climb that packs a serious punch into a compact 8.7 km. From a start elevation of 929 m, the road hauls you up to a summit at 1646 m — a net gain of 717 m. That works out to an average gradient of 8.27%, a figure that already tells you this is no gentle warm-up. The average alone would make most riders wary; the fact that the steepest pitch bites at 18.96% turns respect into genuine caution. With a total ascent of 684 m recorded over the effort, this is a climb defined by sustained, unbroken load rather than trickery. There is nowhere to truly hide.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story here is written in the gap between the average and the maximum. An 8.27% mean gradient across 8.7 km means the road rarely dips to anything you would call recovery. But the 18.96% max — more than double the average — signals that the climb stacks its punishing ramps unevenly. Expect long stretches that hover near or above the average, punctuated by sharp kicks that force you out of rhythm and up onto the pedals. Because the net gain (717 m) exceeds the total ascent figure (684 m), the profile leans overwhelmingly one direction: up, with negligible respite. Treat every apparent easing as temporary. The gradient's cruelty is its consistency, and the spikes are where efforts unravel.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this relentless, pacing is everything. The 8.27% average over 8.7 km demands a steady, sustainable output rather than heroics off the bottom. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the temptation to chase the early ramps — you will need that ceiling for the 18.96% pitches later. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. A good rule is to ride the sustained sections just under threshold and accept short surges over your limit on the steepest kicks, knowing the gradient will hand back a fraction of that intensity soon after. Keep your cadence honest; when it collapses on the 18.96% sections, that is your cue to have already shifted, not to shift now.

Gearing

Do not undergear this one. With an average of 8.27% and a max of 18.96%, you want a compact setup and the largest rear cog you can bolt on. A 34×32 is the sensible floor for strong climbers — enough range to spin the sustained sections without grinding. For most riders, though, a 34×34 is the smarter choice, buying you a little more spin on the near-19% ramps where a 34×32 would have you mashing at low cadence and burning matches you cannot afford. Over 8.7 km of this, the extra tooth on the cassette pays for itself many times over. If your bike can take it, err toward the easier gear.

Summary

Colletto Canosio is a pure test of sustained climbing legs: short in distance but unforgiving in gradient, with a 717 m ascent that never lets you settle. Gear low, pace to your threshold, and respect the ramps.

Length: 8.7 km
Average gradient: 8.27%
Max gradient: 18.96%
Start: 929 m
Summit: 1646 m
Net gain: 717 m
Total ascent: 684 m
Category: 1