Foran da la Gjialine

Overview

Foran da la Gjialine is a genuine hors catégorie ascent, and the numbers make no apology for it. Over 18.5 km the road climbs at an average of 7.53%, lifting you from a start elevation of 303 m to a summit at 1694 m. That is a net gain of 1391 m — nearly the full height of the climb earned in one continuous effort. Total ascent registers at 1340 m, and with a maximum gradient of 20.97%, this is a climb that rewards patience far more than ambition.

At almost 18.5 km, this is long enough that the effort becomes an exercise in energy management. There is no short, punchy version of Foran da la Gjialine — you commit at the bottom and you keep paying until 1694 m.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 7.53% across 18.5 km is deceptively brutal, because averages hide the spikes. With a max gradient of 20.97% — nearly three times the average — you can expect the road to lurch well above steady rhythm at its worst pitches. Those ramps are where riders unravel if they have spent too freely on the shallower sections.

Treat the average as your budget, not your target. Sections easier than 7.53% are your chance to recover legs and let the numbers you banked on the steep pitches settle. The 1391 m of net gain arrives relentlessly, so read the road ahead and stay smooth through the gradient swings rather than surging.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. The single most useful anchor is your FTP — the power you can hold for roughly an hour. For an 18.5 km HC effort you will likely be climbing longer than that, so ride at or just below FTP on the average pitches and accept short surges above it only where the 20.97% ramps force your hand.

If you don't know your number, run the FTP estimator before you tackle this. Going out even slightly too hard on the lower slopes will cost you dearly across the full 1391 m of climbing, and there is no flat to hide the damage.

Start conservatively. The summit at 1694 m is a long way from the 303 m start, and riders who feel comfortable in the first few kilometres almost always finish stronger.

Gearing

Gear for the max, not the average. A max gradient of 20.97% on tired legs after most of 1391 m of gain demands a truly generous cassette. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 setup is the realistic minimum here, and many riders will be far happier with 34×34 to keep cadence alive on the steepest ramps.

If your legs or fitness leave any doubt, choose 34×34. Spinning a lower gear over 18.5 km preserves the muscular reserves you'll need when the gradient bites toward 20.97%.

Summary

Foran da la Gjialine is a complete HC climb: long, steep, and unforgiving from the 303 m start to the 1694 m summit. Pace it off your FTP, gear for the 20.97% max, and respect the full 1391 m of net gain, and it becomes a deeply satisfying day rather than a survival exercise.

Length: 18.5 km
Average gradient: 7.53%
Max gradient: 20.97%
Start: 303 m
Summit: 1694 m
Net gain: 1391 m
Total ascent: 1340 m
Category: HC