Forca d'Acero

Overview

Forca d'Acero is a long, steady effort that rewards patience over aggression. Stretching 25.7 km from a valley floor at 374 m to a summit of 1533 m, it delivers 1159 m of net elevation gain across a category 1 ascent. The average gradient sits at a manageable-sounding 4.52%, but that figure hides the real story: at over 25 km in length, this is a climb measured in tens of minutes, not a short punch. Its total ascent of 1144 m confirms there is very little respite once the road tilts upward — this is sustained work from bottom to top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining trait of Forca d'Acero is its consistency. With an average of 4.52% and a maximum of only 7.93%, there are no wall-like ramps waiting to blow your legs apart. The gap between the average and the max is modest, which tells you the road holds a fairly narrow band of gradients rather than swinging wildly between flat and brutal.

That said, the difference between net gain (1159 m) and total ascent (1144 m) is small, meaning the route climbs almost continuously without meaningful descending sections to recover on. The steepest pitches nudging toward 7.93% will be the moments that sting most, but they are the exception. Expect long stretches hovering near or just under the 4.52% average — the kind of grade you can ride seated and rhythmic if you meter your effort correctly.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The single biggest mistake is starting too hard on the gentler early gradients and paying for it over the final kilometres. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to hold a sustainable percentage of it for the full 25.7 km rather than surging on every rise.

If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target power. A well-judged tempo that keeps you comfortably under threshold on the 4.52% sections leaves you enough headroom to absorb the steeper 7.93% pitches without cracking. Treat the max-gradient moments as brief efforts to ride through, then settle back into rhythm immediately afterward.

Gearing

For a 1159 m ascent at these gradients, prioritise cadence over grinding. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders enough range to spin the steeper 7.93% sections without lurching into muscular fatigue. If you carry any extra load, are tackling this at the end of a long day, or simply value fresh legs at the top, step up to a 34×34 for that additional margin. The lower gear costs you nothing on a climb where sustained spinning is the whole game.

Summary

Forca d'Acero is a test of pacing and patience: long, consistent, and forgiving in gradient but unforgiving in duration. Ride it smooth, gear it generously, and the 25.7 km will pass beneath you at a rhythm you can hold all the way to 1533 m.

Length: 25.7 km
Average gradient: 4.52%
Max gradient: 7.93%
Start: 374 m
Summit: 1533 m
Net gain: 1159 m
Total ascent: 1144 m
Category: 1