Forcella di Cece

Overview

Forcella di Cece is a genuine hors catégorie (HC) test, the hardest classification a climb can earn. It runs for 20.8 km at an average gradient of 8.54%, lifting you from a start elevation of 643 m to a summit of 2419 m. That is a net elevation gain of 1776 m, with 1724 m of total ascent packed into a single relentless push. This is not a climb you ease into and survive on fitness alone — 20.8 km rarely dipping below 8% is long enough to break a strong pacing plan and steep enough to punish every mistake.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 8.54% average, but averages hide the pain. With a maximum gradient of 27.91%, this climb has ramps that are nearly three and a half times steeper than the mean. Those pitches are where the road turns from hard to brutal, forcing you out of any rhythm you had built. Across 20.8 km, expect the grade to swing constantly: long sustained stretches near or above the average, punctuated by short, vicious kicks toward that 27.91% wall. The gap between total ascent (1724 m) and net gain (1776 m) is small, which tells you the road climbs almost continuously — there is very little false-flat or descent to recover on. Plan for a climb that never fully lets you breathe.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long and steep, discipline beats bravado. The single most useful reference is your FTP — your sustainable one-hour power. Because the average sits at 8.54% and the summit is 2419 m up, thin air near the top will quietly cost you watts, so hold something in reserve for the final kilometers. A sensible target is to ride the sustained sections just below threshold, then accept that the pitches toward 27.91% will spike you over it — that is unavoidable, so keep those surges short and settle back down quickly afterward. If you do not know your threshold power, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator and build your climb around it. Starting too hard on the lower slopes above 643 m is the classic way to blow up before the summit.

Gearing

Gearing is not optional insurance here — it is the difference between climbing and walking. With ramps reaching 27.91%, a compact chainring is the minimum sensible choice. A 34×32 setup will get most fit riders up the sustained 8.54% sections, but on the steepest kicks you will be grinding at very low cadence and high torque. For the majority of riders tackling an HC climb of 20.8 km, a 34×34 is the smarter call — the extra sprocket protects your knees and lets you spin through the worst pitches instead of stalling. If your bike allows an even wider range, take it. There is no prize for under-gearing on a wall approaching 28%.

Summary

Forcella di Cece earns its HC status honestly: long, steep, and unforgiving from 643 m to 2419 m. Respect the 8.54% average, fear the 27.91% ramps, gear generously, and pace to your threshold. Get those four things right and this climb becomes a monument you finish rather than one that finishes you.

Length: 20.8 km
Average gradient: 8.54%
Max gradient: 27.91%
Start: 643 m
Summit: 2419 m
Net gain: 1776 m
Total ascent: 1724 m
Category: HC