Forca del Cridola

Overview

Forca del Cridola is a category-2 climb that packs a genuine day's work into a compact 8 km. It starts at 785 m and tops out at 1311 m, a net gain of 526 m, while the total measured ascent comes to 491 m — a hint that the road is not relentlessly uphill but rolls just enough to break your rhythm. The headline figure is an average gradient of 6.61%, steady on paper but sharpened by a maximum pitch of 11.3%. This is a climb of consistent, sustained effort rather than a single wall: long enough to reward pacing, short enough that a hard ride never quite lets you settle.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the arithmetic and the shape becomes clear. A 526 m net rise against 491 m of total ascent over 8 km tells you the climb gains almost everything it advertises, with only a small amount of respite folded in. At 6.61% average you are looking at a grind that rarely eases below a working tempo, and the 11.3% maximum means at least one section demands a real surge out of the saddle. Expect the difficulty to concentrate where the road bites hardest — the gap between the 6.61% mean and the 11.3% peak is where your legs will remember the day. Treat the steeper pitches as the crux and the flatter, rolling metres as your only chance to recover.

Pacing Notes

Because the average sits at 6.61% with spikes to 11.3%, the smart approach is to ride the whole 8 km just below your threshold and hold power steady rather than chasing the ramps. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a sustained category-2 climb like this, sitting a touch under it lets you absorb the 11.3% sections without blowing apart, then settle back on the shallower stretches. If you do not know your number, run the FTP estimator first so your pacing targets are honest. The climb is short enough that going too deep early costs you dearly across the back half — better to feel slightly conservative through the first few kilometres and finish strong at 1311 m.

Gearing

At 6.61% average with an 11.3% pinch, most riders will want a compact setup with room to spin. A 34×32 is a sensible baseline and will carry strong climbers up the steeper metres without grinding, but if you like a higher cadence or you are riding into fatigue, step to a 34×34 for extra insurance on the 11.3% ramp. Over 8 km of sustained climbing, the lower gear keeps your cadence and heart rate in check rather than forcing you to muscle each pedal stroke. Choose the 34×32 for a punchier, efficient rhythm and the 34×34 for comfort and headroom when the gradient spikes.

Summary

Forca del Cridola is a satisfying, well-defined climb: 8 km of steady work at 6.61%, a summit at 1311 m, and just enough gradient variation to keep you honest. Pace it to your threshold, gear for the 11.3% ramps, and it rewards a measured ride.

Length: 8 km
Average gradient: 6.61%
Max gradient: 11.3%
Start: 785 m
Summit: 1311 m
Net gain: 526 m
Total ascent: 491 m
Category: 2