Forcella Agre

Overview

Forcella Agre is one of those climbs that leaves no room for negotiation. Over just 10.5 km it averages a savage 10.99%, dragging you from a valley floor at 449 m all the way up to a 1603 m summit. That is a net elevation gain of 1154 m — the difference between where you clip in and where you finally sit up. It carries the HC designation, hors catégorie, the label reserved for the hardest climbs on the scale that runs down through categories 1, 2, 3, and 4. Nothing about this profile is casual; it is short by grand-tour standards but relentlessly steep, and the average gradient alone tells you most of the story.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to keep front of mind is 10.99%. Sustaining nearly eleven percent for 10.5 km is what separates Forcella Agre from ordinary hard climbs. The total ascent recorded on the road is 1122 m, sitting just below the 1154 m of net gain — a difference of only 32 m — which tells you this is essentially uphill from bottom to top, with almost no descending or false-flat relief to break the rhythm. In practical terms, you should expect the gradient to hover around the double-digit average for long, uninterrupted stretches. There are no numbers here promising a gentle run-in or a flattened finish, so plan for the steepness to be present from early on and to stay with you.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this uniform, pacing is everything. The consistent 10.99% average means there are few natural places to recover, so going out too hard in the opening kilometres will cost you dearly across the full 10.5 km. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a sustainable percentage of it rather than chasing surges. If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. On gradients near eleven percent, small changes in power translate into large changes in speed, so ride the climb as an evenly paced time trial and let the 1154 m of vertical come to you.

Gearing

Gear for the average, not the optimist in you. With 10.5 km at 10.99%, you want a bailout ratio that keeps your cadence turning even when your legs argue. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 is a sensible floor for strong climbers, but most riders will be grateful for a 34×34 on a climb this sustained. The extra sprocket is not a luxury when you are grinding out 1154 m of gain — it is the difference between spinning and stalling. If your bike allows an even wider cassette, take it; nothing about this profile rewards over-gearing.

Summary

Forcella Agre is a compact, uncompromising HC test: 10.5 km of near-constant steepness delivering 1154 m of climbing to a 1603 m summit. Pace it as a threshold effort, gear low, and respect the average.

Length: 10.5 km
Average gradient: 10.99%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 449 m
Summit: 1603 m
Net gain: 1154 m
Total ascent: 1122 m
Category: HC