Forcella di Lius

Overview

Forcella di Lius is a long, category 2 Italian climb that rewards patience over raw power. Across 21.2 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 344 m to a 1051 m summit, a net elevation gain of 707 m. The headline average gradient is a deceptively gentle 3.33%, but the total ascent of 693 m confirms this is a climb with rhythm changes rather than a single relentless ramp. The gap between net gain and total ascent tells you there are false flats and brief recoveries baked into its 21.2 km — the road gives a little back before demanding more.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not let the 3.33% average lull you. A climb this length almost never sits at its mean, and Forcella di Lius is no exception: it hides a savage 21.93% maximum gradient somewhere in its span. That single number reshapes how you read the whole ascent. Long stretches must sit well below the average to leave room for a pitch nearly seven times steeper than the mean. Expect gentle, spinning kilometres punctuated by sharp, out-of-the-saddle efforts. With 707 m of net gain spread over 21.2 km, the climb trends steadily upward, but the 693 m total ascent — slightly less than the net gain difference implies — signals a route that mostly climbs while occasionally leveling. Read the road, not the average, and save something for that 21.93% kicker.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of 21.2 km, the biggest mistake is treating the early gentle gradients as an invitation to push. Anchor your effort to your sustainable ceiling instead. Your FTP is the reference point here: settle into a power that you can hold for the full duration rather than chasing the shallow opening kilometres. If you are unsure where that ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride so your pacing plan is grounded in real data.

The 3.33% average means much of the climb can be ridden at or near threshold comfortably — but the 21.93% max is where a poorly rationed effort unravels. Ease into the steep pitch, accept a lower speed, and let cadence drop rather than blowing past your limit. Across 707 m of climbing, consistency beats heroics every time.

Gearing

For a 21.2 km climb topping out at 21.93%, gear for the worst pitch, not the average. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will handle the majority of Forcella di Lius comfortably, keeping your cadence high through the 3.33% stretches. But for that 21.93% wall — and the fatigue accumulated over 693 m of ascent — a 34×34 buys you the extra spin you will want when your legs are deep into the effort. If your fitness sits below your target, err toward the easier ratio. Nobody regrets a bailout gear on a climb this long.

Summary

Forcella di Lius is a climb of contrasts: a modest 3.33% average masking a brutal 21.93% high point, strung out over a full 21.2 km. Pace to your ceiling, gear for the steep, and let its 707 m of gain unfold beneath you.

Length: 21.2 km
Average gradient: 3.33%
Max gradient: 21.93%
Start: 344 m
Summit: 1051 m
Net gain: 707 m
Total ascent: 693 m
Category: 2