Forca di Monticello / Forcje Montusel

Overview

Forca di Monticello, known locally as Forcje Montusel, is one of those climbs where the numbers do most of the talking. Over just 5.4 km it drags you from a start elevation of 292 m up to a 944 m summit — a net gain of 652 m — at an average gradient of 11.99%. That average is the headline: double-digit gradients sustained for the better part of an hour of climbing put this firmly in the punishing bracket. With a max pitch of 27.32%, it earns its Category 1 rating and demands respect from the first pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is relentlessness. An average of 11.99% across 5.4 km means there is very little in the way of genuine recovery — the climb does not so much undulate as tilt, hold, and tilt harder. The total ascent of 636 m sits just below the 652 m net gain, which tells you the road climbs almost continuously rather than giving back elevation through descents. That is a climber's warning sign: what goes up here mostly stays up. The 27.32% maximum gradient marks the cruelest ramp, and at more than double the average it is the moment that will define your ride. Expect the steepest sections to arrive without much of a run-up, forcing you to shift and settle before the wall bites.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, discipline in the opening kilometre pays dividends later. Because the average never drops out of the double digits, riding above your sustainable threshold early will simply mean walking near the top. Anchor your effort to your FTP rather than to speed — on 11.99% grades your pace will feel painfully slow no matter how hard you push, and chasing a number on the display is a trap. Aim to hold a steady, repeatable power and reserve a little headroom for the 27.32% ramp, where cadence collapses and torque demands spike. If you are unsure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit, then build your climbing effort around that figure.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With a sustained 11.99% average and pitches touching 27.32%, most riders will want the easiest ratios they can bolt on. A 34×32 is the sensible minimum for a strong climber, and even then the steepest ramp will have you grinding. For the majority of riders — and anyone who wants to keep spinning rather than lurching — a 34×34 is the smarter choice, giving you a little more room to maintain cadence when the road stands up. If your bike can accept a wider cassette, this is the climb that justifies it.

Summary

Forca di Monticello is a short, savage Category 1 test defined by its double-digit average and a max ramp that borders on unrideable. Come with low gears, a disciplined pacing plan, and respect for every metre of the 652 m you are about to earn.

Length: 5.4 km
Average gradient: 11.99%
Max gradient: 27.32%
Start: 292 m
Summit: 944 m
Net gain: 652 m
Total ascent: 636 m
Category: 1