Forcella di Bragarolo

Overview

Forcella di Bragarolo is a genuine hors catégorie ascent, and the numbers leave no room for argument. Over 20.9 km the road climbs from 644 m to a summit of 2420 m, stacking up 1776 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 8.5%. That average alone would qualify most climbs as brutal, but here it is sustained for the better part of an hour or more, punctuated by a peak pitch of 27.45% that ranks among the steepest a road bike can face. This is a climb you plan a whole ride around, not one you stumble onto.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 8.5% average across 20.9 km tells you there is almost no relief. With a total ascent of 1743 m — just shy of the 1776 m net gain — there is very little descending or false flat to break the rhythm; nearly every metre gained stays gained. The defining feature is the 27.45% maximum, more than three times the average. A ramp that steep is not a gradual squeeze; it is a wall that forces you out of the saddle and can stall momentum instantly. Expect the climb to alternate between long stretches hovering around the 8.5% mean and short, savage kicks where the road tilts far beyond it. Managing those spikes without blowing up is the whole puzzle.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long and steep, pacing is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a sustainable percentage of it across the 8.5% average sections, saving a little headroom for the 27.45% ramps where power inevitably surges. If you do not know your threshold, estimate it first with the FTP estimator so you can set realistic targets. The cardinal error here is going too hard early: with 1776 m of climbing ahead, a fast opening 5 km can leave you crawling the final third. Ride the first half well within yourself, keep cadence up, and treat the steepest pitches as brief over-efforts rather than a new baseline.

Gearing

Gear for survival, not pride. For a 20.9 km climb averaging 8.5% with 27.45% spikes, most riders will want the widest range they can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low is a sensible starting point, but on the 27.45% ramps even that can feel marginal. If your terrain and body suggest you will struggle, step up to 34×34 for extra insurance — the lower gear lets you spin those walls instead of grinding to a halt. Given 1776 m of total gain, protecting your knees and keeping cadence high over the full distance matters more than any weight penalty.

Summary

Forcella di Bragarolo is a complete HC test: sustained 8.5% gradients, a 27.45% sting, and 1776 m of climbing from valley to sky. Respect the pacing, gear low, and it becomes one of the most rewarding summits you can earn.

Length: 20.9 km
Average gradient: 8.5%
Max gradient: 27.45%
Start: 644 m
Summit: 2420 m
Net gain: 1776 m
Total ascent: 1743 m
Category: HC