Eisbruggjoch - Passo Ponte di Ghiaccio

Overview

The Eisbruggjoch - Passo Ponte di Ghiaccio is a genuine hors catégorie test: 22.7 km of climbing that lifts you from 722 m at the base all the way to 2536 m at the summit. That is 1814 m of net elevation gain, with 1785 m of total ascent packed into the effort. At 7.98% on average, this is not a climb that eases you in — it is long, steep, and relentless from bottom to top, finishing well above the treeline where the air thins and every watt costs more.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 7.98% across 22.7 km already tells you there is nowhere to truly recover, but the headline number hides the real story: a maximum gradient of 32.43%. That single figure — more than four times the average — signals at least one wall so steep it forces you out of any rhythm you have built. Expect long sustained stretches near the 8% average punctuated by sharper ramps that spike well into double digits. With net gain (1814 m) almost matching total ascent (1785 m), there is barely any downhill respite along the way; the road points relentlessly up. Save something for the upper reaches, where altitude near 2536 m compounds the pain.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The smartest approach is to ride the first two-thirds at or just below your sustainable threshold and let the mountain come to you. Your FTP is the single most useful number here: knowing it lets you translate the 7.98% average into a power target you can hold for the better part of an hour or more. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace. When you hit the ramp toward that 32.43% maximum, accept that power will briefly spike above threshold — that is unavoidable — then settle back down as soon as the gradient relents. Manage the whole 22.7 km as one effort, not a series of sprints.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. For an HC climb averaging 7.98% over 22.7 km with a 32.43% maximum pitch, a compact chainset with a wide-range cassette is the minimum sensible setup. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections, but on a wall that steep — and this late in a 1814 m ascent — a 34×34 gives you the extra safety margin to keep spinning rather than grinding to a stall. If your frame and derailleur can accommodate even more range, take it. Fresh legs forgive tall gearing; legs 20 km into an HC climb at altitude do not.

Summary

The Eisbruggjoch - Passo Ponte di Ghiaccio earns its HC rating honestly: a 22.7 km climb at 7.98%, topping out at 2536 m with 1814 m of net gain and a brutal 32.43% maximum. Pace it with your threshold, gear it generously, and respect the altitude.

Length: 22.7 km
Average gradient: 7.98%
Max gradient: 32.43%
Start: 722 m
Summit: 2536 m
Net gain: 1814 m
Total ascent: 1785 m
Category: HC