Forca Trivella

Overview

Forca Trivella is one of those climbs whose numbers stop you mid-scroll. Over just 9.2 km it averages a brutal 13.19%, dragging you from a start elevation of 321 m all the way to a 1534 m summit. That is 1213 m of net elevation gain, and because the road never gives anything back, the total ascent is also 1213 m — no false descents to break the effort, no rolling relief. Classified HC (hors catégorie, the hardest rung above categories 1 through 4), this is a climb defined not by length but by density. Nearly every metre you gain is earned on a gradient that would be considered a nasty ramp on any ordinary ascent, sustained here for the full distance.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Forca Trivella is consistency at an extreme level. A 13.19% average across 9.2 km means there is very little of the climb that offers respite. On gentler ascents the average hides brief steep pitches balanced by shallow recovery; here the average is the experience. Spread 1213 m of climbing over 9.2 km and you get a wall that leans in from the first pedal stroke to the last. Expect the effort to feel front-loaded only in the sense that you have the most road ahead of you — the slope itself barely relents. Treat the entire climb as a single sustained wall rather than a sequence of distinct sections, and pace accordingly.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this uniform, pacing discipline is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the urge to push above it early, because there is no shallow section later where you can recover the matches you burn. At an average of 13.19% you will be turning the pedals slowly, so a small surge in power translates into a large jump in perceived effort. Aim to hold a steady, sub-threshold wattage for the full 9.2 km and let the metres tick by. If you are unsure what number to target, run your figures through the FTP estimator first, then set a ceiling and hold it. The 1213 m of ascent will test your patience as much as your legs.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. A 13.19% average sustained for 9.2 km punishes anyone spinning out of easy ratios. A 34×32 is the sensible floor for strong climbers, but on a wall this relentless most riders will be far happier with a 34×34 to keep cadence off the floor and protect the knees across all 1213 m of climbing. If your setup allows an even wider range, take it — there is no such thing as too many teeth on an HC climb that averages over 13%.

Summary

Forca Trivella is a pure test of sustained steep climbing: short in distance, savage in gradient, unrelenting from base to summit. Pace it conservatively, gear it generously, and respect every one of its 1213 vertical metres.

Length: 9.2 km
Average gradient: 13.19%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 321 m
Summit: 1534 m
Net gain: 1213 m
Total ascent: 1213 m
Category: HC