Forcella Cimoliana

Overview

Forcella Cimoliana is a category-2 climb that rewards patience. Over its 16.7 km you gain 778 m net, rising from a start elevation of 562 m to a 1340 m summit. On paper the 4.66% average gradient reads as friendly, and for long stretches it is — but that number hides a wide spread. The steepest ramp bites at 16.78%, more than three times the average, so this is not a climb you can settle into on autopilot. It is long enough to matter and irregular enough to punish anyone who spends too early.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining trait here is the gap between the 4.66% average and the 16.78% maximum. Averages this modest over 16.7 km almost always mean an uneven road: gentle valleys where you recover, broken up by sharp kickers that force you out of rhythm. Expect the elevation to accumulate in fits rather than a steady staircase. The 778 m of net gain arrives unevenly, so read the road ahead and treat every flatter section as a chance to bank a little rest before the next steep pitch. When the gradient jumps toward its 16.78% peak, the smart move is to stay seated where you can and keep your cadence from collapsing.

Pacing Notes

Because the average is low but the peaks are severe, pace to your sustainable power rather than to the gradient in front of you. Anchor your effort to your FTP: aim to hold a comfortable percentage of it across the full 16.7 km, and only let the number climb briefly on the steepest ramps toward 16.78%. Over-cooking an early kicker will cost you far more than the seconds it saves. If you are not sure what your threshold is, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your target. With 778 m to gain, the climb rewards a metronomic effort far more than heroics on any single pitch.

Gearing

The low 4.66% average tempts riders into bringing too tall a cassette, and then the 16.78% ramps punish that choice. A compact crank paired with a wide-range cassette is the right call. A 34×32 will get most riders up comfortably if their threshold is solid and their legs are fresh. If you expect to arrive fatigued, prefer to spin, or simply want insurance for the steepest sections, step up to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive when the road tips toward its maximum and turns a grind into a manageable rhythm.

Summary

Forcella Cimoliana is a long, uneven category-2 test: manageable on average, genuinely steep in places, and best ridden with discipline and the right gearing. Respect the 16.78% pitches, protect your effort on the flatter stretches, and the 1340 m summit comes to those who pace it well.

Length: 16.7 km
Average gradient: 4.66%
Max gradient: 16.78%
Start: 562 m
Summit: 1340 m
Net gain: 778 m
Total ascent: 740 m
Category: 2