Forcella Ambrizzola

Overview

Forcella Ambrizzola is a long, honest category 1 climb that rewards patience over punch. Over 23.2 km the road lifts you from 987 m at the base to 2273 m at the summit, a net gain of 1286 m. The average gradient reads a moderate-sounding 5.54%, but that headline figure hides plenty: with total ascent measured at 1312 m against a net of 1286 m, there are small dips and false flats along the way that force you to keep re-accelerating. At more than 23 km, this is a climb where a steady rhythm matters far more than raw power, and where going out too hard is the easiest mistake to make.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is the gap between the numbers. An average of 5.54% is very rideable, but the maximum gradient touches 18.99% — nearly four times the average. That tells you the climb is uneven rather than relentless. Long stretches sit comfortably below the average, giving your legs room to settle, before the road pitches up into ramps that spike toward that near-19% wall. Because total ascent (1312 m) slightly exceeds the net gain (1286 m), you climb a little more than the elevation difference suggests, thanks to short descents or plateaus that break up the ascent. Expect to shift often and to save something in reserve for the steepest kicks, which arrive when you least want them.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this length, effort management is everything. Anchor your pace to your FTP and aim to hold a sustainable percentage of it for the full 23.2 km rather than chasing the ramps. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit. The steep sections that approach 18.99% will briefly push you well over threshold — that is fine and unavoidable — but the discipline is to ease back onto the shallower gradients and let your heart rate recover rather than bleeding matches. With over 1286 m of climbing to absorb, riders who pace the first half conservatively almost always feel stronger near 2273 m than those who attack early.

Gearing

Given the length and the near-19% maximum ramps, gear for the worst pitch, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the 18.99% sections, but many will be grateful for a 34×34 to keep a spinnable cadence deep into a 23.2 km effort, especially with fatigue building above 2000 m. If you tend to grind, err toward the easier 34×34 — the extra range costs nothing on the flatter stretches and protects your legs across the full 1312 m of ascent.

Summary

Forcella Ambrizzola is a climb of endurance and rhythm: long, uneven, and topping out at genuine altitude. Respect the ramps, gear generously, and pace to your threshold.

Length: 23.2 km
Average gradient: 5.54%
Max gradient: 18.99%
Start: 987 m
Summit: 2273 m
Net gain: 1286 m
Total ascent: 1312 m
Category: 1