Forcella Lareseit

Overview

Forcella Lareseit is a Category 1 climb that gives you nowhere to hide. Over 8.4 km it averages 8.74%, dragging you from a start elevation of 341 m up to a 1074 m summit — a net gain of 733 m. On paper the average alone marks it as a serious effort, but the number that defines the day is the 19.78% maximum: this is a climb with real teeth, not a steady drag. With a total ascent of 715 m across its length, almost every metre of the road tilts uphill. There is no false-flat reprieve, no valley kink to spin out your legs. You commit at the bottom, and the mountain simply keeps asking.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is about sustained severity punctuated by sharp spikes. An 8.74% average across 8.4 km is already demanding, but averages flatter the truth — for that mean to hold while ramps hit 19.78%, the road must trade steep pitches against slightly easier recovery sections that are still firmly uphill. Expect the gradient to breathe between roughly single-digit slopes and those brutal near-20% kicks. Because the climb gains 733 m net over such a short distance, the pitches stack quickly and the elevation ticks up fast on your computer. Treat every steep section as a deliberate, deposited effort rather than something to attack, and the shape becomes manageable.

Pacing Notes

Pace Forcella Lareseit off your sustainable threshold, not your ego. Because the average sits at 8.74%, you will spend most of the climb well above endurance intensity, so knowing your FTP is the difference between finishing strong and blowing apart on one of the 19.78% ramps. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you go. The tactical rule is simple: bleed a little on the steep spikes to avoid spiking your heart rate, then settle back to target power the moment the road relents. On a climb gaining 733 m in 8.4 km, consistency wins — a rider holding an even effort will pass anyone who surges the ramps and pays for it later.

Gearing

Gear for the maximum, not the average. With ramps at 19.78% and a summit at 1074 m, you want climbing gears in reserve so you never grind to a halt on the steep pitches. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 will get most fit riders up cleanly, but on a Cat-1 wall this steep, a 34×34 is the smarter, more forgiving choice — it buys you cadence when the road hits its worst gradients and protects your legs across the full 715 m of ascent. If your setup allows it, err toward the easier ratio; you will never regret spinning a steep 19.78% ramp instead of mashing it.

Summary

Forcella Lareseit is a compact, unrelenting Cat-1 test: short enough to attempt on tired legs, steep enough to punish any pacing error. Respect the 19.78% spikes, gear low, and hold your threshold.

Length: 8.4 km
Average gradient: 8.74%
Max gradient: 19.78%
Start: 341 m
Summit: 1074 m
Net gain: 733 m
Total ascent: 715 m
Category: 1