Forcella Ielma

Overview

Forcella Ielma is a hors catégorie monster, the kind of climb that earns its HC label not through a single wall but through sheer, grinding persistence. From a base at 420 m it drags you all the way to a 1892 m summit, a net elevation gain of 1472 m spread across 23.5 km of road. The average gradient reads 6.27%, a number that sounds almost civilized until you realize it is sustained for nearly an hour of climbing for most riders, with total ascent tallying 1550 m once the small dips and rolls are counted. This is an effort measured in patience as much as power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure — 6.27% average — hides the real character of the climb. With a max gradient of 21%, the road clearly does not hold a steady pitch. Instead, gentler stretches below the average buy back the brutal ramps that spike toward that 21% ceiling. The gap between the 6.27% mean and the 21% peak tells you everything: expect the gradient to breathe, lulling you into rhythm before rearing up. Because the total ascent of 1550 m exceeds the net gain of 1472 m, there are false flats and brief reprieves woven in, meaning you gain and give back a little across the 23.5 km. Read the road, not just the average.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline early is everything. The single biggest mistake is chasing the steep pitches with efforts you cannot repeat — with 23.5 km ahead, torching your matches on the first ramp toward 21% will cost you dearly near the 1892 m summit. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: on an HC climb of this duration, most riders should sit at or just below threshold on the sustained sections and accept short surges above it only when the gradient forces the issue. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you commit. Aim to arrive at the halfway point — roughly the midpoint of the 1472 m of net gain — feeling like you still have a gear in reserve.

Gearing

Do not undergear this one. At 23.5 km averaging 6.27% with ramps to 21%, ample bailout gearing is not a luxury, it is survival. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained pitches, but on the steepest 21% sections — especially deep into the climb when your legs are hollow — a 34×34 gives you the extra breathing room to keep the cadence turning rather than grinding to a stall. If your bike accepts it, err toward the easier 34×34; you will never regret spinning up a 1472 m ascent.

Summary

Forcella Ielma is a genuine test of endurance and pacing — a long, uneven HC grind that rewards riders who respect the distance and gear conservatively. Ride it patiently and the 1892 m summit is a triumph rather than a survival story.

Length: 23.5 km
Average gradient: 6.27%
Max gradient: 21%
Start: 420 m
Summit: 1892 m
Net gain: 1472 m
Total ascent: 1550 m
Category: HC