Forcella Franche

Overview

Forcella Franche is a short, serious climb that packs its difficulty into a tight envelope. Over just 5 km it averages 8.35%, lifting you from a start elevation of 582 m to a summit of 1000 m. That is 418 m of net elevation gain earned across a distance where there is nowhere to hide and very little chance to recover.

At category 2, it sits squarely in the range where a climb is long enough to hurt but short enough that pacing errors are punished quickly. With a maximum gradient of 11.42%, the steepest sections are steep enough to force you out of the saddle, but the story here is really about the relentless average rather than any single wall.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Forcella Franche is consistency. An 8.35% average over 5 km means there is almost no flat, no false flat, and no meaningful descent to break the rhythm. The gap between the average of 8.35% and the maximum of 11.42% is a little over three percentage points, which tells you the climb rarely eases and rarely spikes dramatically either.

That narrow band matters. On climbs where the average and maximum are far apart, you get long lulls followed by brutal ramps. Here, expect the road to hover near its average for long stretches, tilting up toward 11.42% on the harder pitches and only briefly relaxing. You climb 418 m in net terms, and with total ascent of 392 m the profile is essentially one continuous upward push from bottom to top.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient never really relents, Forcella Franche rewards riders who settle into a sustainable effort early rather than attacking the lower slopes. A climb of this length lives right around threshold for most riders, so anchoring your effort to your FTP is the smartest approach.

If you do not know your threshold power, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride. Aim to hold a steady effort just at or slightly below threshold for the opening kilometres, then allow yourself to press harder over the steeper pitches near 11.42% once the summit at 1000 m is within reach. The 5 km distance is short enough that a controlled negative split is realistic, but only if you resist the temptation to go into the red on the lower ramps.

Gearing

An 8.35% average sustained for 5 km demands compact gearing for all but the strongest climbers. A 34-tooth inner chainring is the sensible starting point. Pair it with a 34×32 as a reasonable minimum for fit riders who spin well and want to keep cadence up on the steady middle section.

For most riders, or on a heavier day, a 34×34 is the safer choice. That extra sprocket gives you the range to keep spinning through the 11.42% pitches without grinding your cadence into the ground. If you have a wide-range cassette available, bring it; the penalty for over-gearing on a climb this consistent is a slow, painful death by attrition.

Summary

Forcella Franche is a compact category 2 test: 5 km of near-constant 8.35% climbing, with just enough steepness at 11.42% to keep you honest. Pace it to threshold, gear it low, and let the summit come to you.

Length: 5 km
Average gradient: 8.35%
Max gradient: 11.42%
Start: 582 m
Summit: 1000 m
Net gain: 418 m
Total ascent: 392 m
Category: 2