Forcella Intrigós

Overview

Forcella Intrigós is a long, sustained category 1 climb that stretches for 16.8 km and lifts you from a start elevation of 236 m all the way to a summit of 1146 m. That is a net gain of 910 m, with a total ascent of 898 m once the minor rises and dips along the way are counted. The average gradient sits at 5.41%, which reads as moderate on paper but disguises the real challenge: at 16.8 km, this is a climb that rewards patience and punishes anyone who empties the tank early. With a maximum gradient of 14.42%, there are stretches steep enough to force a hard tactical decision about how much you spend and when.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 5.41% average and the 14.42% maximum tells the story of this climb better than any single figure. A climb of nearly 900 m net gain at a mid-single-digit average is not a wall — it is a rolling, uneven ascent where the steep pitches are stitched together with shallower ramps that let you recover, or tempt you into going too hard. Expect the effort to arrive in waves. The steepest sections, approaching 14.42%, are where cadence collapses and the climb finds out who paced correctly. Between them, the gradient eases back toward and below the 5.41% average, and those softer kilometres are where smart riders eat, drink and settle their breathing rather than chasing speed.

Pacing Notes

Over 16.8 km the winning strategy is to ride to a target power, not to a feeling. Anchor your effort to your FTP: for a climb of this length, most riders settle a touch below threshold on the shallow ramps and let the pitches toward 14.42% push them briefly over, accepting the surges rather than fighting them. If you do not know your threshold number yet, run it through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace — starting too hot on the first few kilometres is the classic way to blow up with the summit at 1146 m still out of sight. Break the 910 m of climbing into thirds and check in with yourself at each one; if you are still comfortable two-thirds up, you have paced it right.

Gearing

With a maximum gradient of 14.42% and 910 m of climbing to grind through, gearing generously is the difference between spinning and grovelling. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear will get most trained riders up the steepest pitches while keeping cadence respectable. If you are carrying fatigue, riding at altitude, or simply prefer to spin, drop to a 34×34 — the extra range costs almost nothing and buys you a real safety margin on the ramps that spike toward 14.42%. On a 16.8 km climb, protecting your knees and your legs for the final third is always worth it.

Summary

Forcella Intrigós is a proper endurance test: long, uneven, and steep enough in places to matter. Pace it to your threshold, gear it for the 14.42% ramps, and the 5.41% average becomes an ally rather than an ambush.

Length: 16.8 km
Average gradient: 5.41%
Max gradient: 14.42%
Start: 236 m
Summit: 1146 m
Net gain: 910 m
Total ascent: 898 m
Category: 1