Forcella Ceremana

Overview

Forcella Ceremana is a brute of a climb, the kind of ascent that earns its HC (hors catégorie) rating without asking for sympathy. Over 15 km it averages a savage 9.82%, dragging you from a start elevation of 760 m all the way to a summit at 2237 m. That works out to 1477 m of net elevation gain, with 1432 m of total ascent packed into a road that rarely lets you breathe. There is no gentle valley run-in here to loosen the legs — the average gradient alone puts Forcella Ceremana in the company of the hardest climbs anywhere, and the numbers only get more intimidating the closer you look.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 9.82% is misleading in the way all averages are: it hides the spikes. On Forcella Ceremana the road bites hardest where the gradient peaks at 27.91%, a wall steep enough that momentum evaporates and cadence collapses. Because the total ascent (1432 m) sits just below the net gain (1477 m), the profile is almost relentlessly upward — there is essentially no descending or flat recovery to reset your rhythm. Every one of the 15 km contributes climbing, and the pitches that punch well above 9.82% are balanced only by shallower stretches, never by genuine rest. Expect the shape to feel like a staircase with no landings.

Pacing Notes

Discipline is everything on a climb this long and this steep. With 15 km at 9.82%, going into the red early is a mistake you pay for over the entire ascent. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold the sustainable stretches just below threshold, saving your matches for the ramps toward 27.91% where you have no choice but to surge. If you are not sure what your threshold number is, run it through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. On the steepest pitches, power targets stop mattering and survival cadence takes over — accept that your speed will drop and keep the effort even rather than chasing a number.

Gearing

Do not under-gear for Forcella Ceremana. A compact 34-tooth inner ring is the starting point, and on a climb that averages 9.82% and spikes to 27.91%, your cassette does the heavy lifting. A 34×32 is the bare minimum most riders should consider, and even strong climbers will be grateful for it on the walls. For the majority, a 34×34 is the smarter choice — that extra sprocket buys you a lower survival gear precisely where the gradient turns vicious, letting you spin instead of grind and protecting your legs across the full 15 km. When in doubt, take the easier ratio; nobody finishes this climb wishing they had a harder gear.

Summary

Forcella Ceremana is a genuine HC test: long, steep, and unrelenting from 760 m to 2237 m. Respect the average, fear the max, and gear low.

Length: 15 km
Average gradient: 9.82%
Max gradient: 27.91%
Start: 760 m
Summit: 2237 m
Net gain: 1477 m
Total ascent: 1432 m
Category: HC