Forcella Ferron

Overview

Forcella Ferron is short on paper and merciless in reality. Over just 3.3 km it hauls you from 515 m to 1010 m of elevation, a net gain of 495 m packed into a distance most riders would consider a warm-up. The average gradient is a staggering 15.14%, a figure that would be a hard maximum on many famous climbs but here is the sustained baseline. With a peak pitch of 20.76% and a category-1 rating, this is a climb that rewards restraint at the bottom and stubbornness at the top. There is nowhere to hide and almost nothing that resembles rest.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Forcella Ferron is its relentlessness. A 15.14% average across 3.3 km means there are no long flat interruptions to reset your legs; the road simply tilts up and stays there. The gap between the 15.14% average and the 20.76% maximum tells you the story of the hard sections: when the road steepens toward that 20.76% ceiling, it is only about five and a half points above an already savage average. Expect the steepest ramps to arrive without much warning and to demand out-of-the-saddle efforts. The net elevation gain of 495 m against a total ascent of 447 m confirms there is little to no descending mixed in; almost every metre of road climbs.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is really about not blowing up in the first 500 metres. The temptation is to attack the opening ramps while fresh, but with 3.3 km of 15.14% ahead, that is how you end up walking. Aim to hold an effort you can sustain to the summit, ideally anchored just below your FTP. Because the gradient rarely eases, you will not get the coasting recoveries that let you surge elsewhere, so your average power will sit close to your threshold the entire way. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then treat that value as your ceiling rather than your target.

Gearing

Do not underestimate this one. A 15.14% average with pitches to 20.76% will punish anything geared for rolling terrain. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the minimum sensible setup. A 34×32 will get many trained riders up if they are climbing well and staying seated where possible, but on the steepest 20.76% ramps that ratio can force your cadence uncomfortably low. If you have any doubt about your fitness or you are carrying a loaded bike, go to a 34×34 (or lower) so you can keep the legs spinning rather than grinding to a halt. On a climb this steep, more range is never wasted.

Summary

Forcella Ferron is a pure test of climbing legs: short, savagely steep, and unforgiving from bottom to top. Bring low gears, ride within yourself early, and let the numbers do the talking.

Length: 3.3 km
Average gradient: 15.14%
Max gradient: 20.76%
Start: 515 m
Summit: 1010 m
Net gain: 495 m
Total ascent: 447 m
Category: 1