Forcella della Lama

Overview

Forcella della Lama is a long, honest category 3 climb that rewards rhythm over raw power. It runs for 13.8 km, lifting you from a start elevation of 523 m to a summit at 972 m. That works out to a net elevation gain of 449 m, with a total ascent of 431 m once you account for the small dips and rolls along the way. The average gradient sits at a modest 3.25%, which sounds gentle on paper — and for long stretches it is. But a maximum gradient of 9.93% means the climb keeps a harder card up its sleeve, so treating the whole ascent as a flat drag is a mistake that will cost you late.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 3.25% average spread across 13.8 km, the arithmetic tells you most of this climb is shallow. A ramp touching 9.93% is roughly three times steeper than the average, so the difficulty is not evenly distributed — it is concentrated. Expect long, low-percentage sections where you can carry real speed, punctuated by sharper pitches that pull toward that near-10% maximum. The gap between the 431 m total ascent and the 449 m net gain is small, which tells you there is very little false-flat give-back: the road climbs steadily rather than yo-yoing. That consistency makes it a climb you can read and settle into once the shape becomes familiar.

Pacing Notes

Because the average is low but the peaks are steep, pace to the terrain rather than the summit. On the shallow ramps, hold a controlled effort near or just under your FTP; on the pitches approaching 9.93%, let power surge briefly, then recover as the grade eases — the overall 3.25% average gives you room to breathe between the hard sections. If you don't know your threshold, plug your numbers into the FTP estimator before your next attempt so your ceiling isn't guesswork. With 449 m of net gain over 13.8 km, this is a sustained effort, not a sprint — the riders who blow up here are the ones who chase the steep ramps too hard.

Gearing

For a category 3 climb averaging 3.25%, most riders will be comfortable on standard road gearing, but the 9.93% maximum is where planning pays off. A compact chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear will cover the majority of the ascent without straining your cadence. If you tend to grind, or you're carrying fatigue into the steeper pitches, a 34×34 gives you an extra escape gear to spin over the hardest ramps and protect your legs for the final push to 972 m. Either setup keeps you seated and turning smoothly rather than lurching out of the saddle.

Summary

Forcella della Lama is a manageable but deceptive climb: shallow enough to enjoy, steep enough in places to punish carelessness. Pace the ramps, save your matches for the near-10% pitches, and let the low average carry you the rest of the way.

Length: 13.8 km
Average gradient: 3.25%
Max gradient: 9.93%
Start: 523 m
Summit: 972 m
Net gain: 449 m
Total ascent: 431 m
Category: 3