Forcella Malbarc

Overview

Forcella Malbarc is a Category 2 climb that packs a genuine test into a compact 5.8 km. From a start elevation of 724 m it lifts you to a summit of 1092 m, a net gain of 368 m at an average gradient of 6.36%. That average is honest and sustained rather than gentle, and it is punctuated by a maximum pitch of 12.72% that roughly doubles the effort where it bites. At under six kilometres this is a climb you can commit to fully, but the steady 6.36% mean leaves little room to coast — you are working from the first pedal stroke to the last.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is defined by the gap between the 6.36% average and the 12.72% maximum. When a climb's steepest ramp sits at exactly double its average, it tells you the road is not uniform: the mean is propped up in places by steeper kicks and softened elsewhere by shallower stretches. Expect the gradient to breathe. There will be sections that hover near or below the 6.36% figure where you can find rhythm, and at least one ramp climbing toward that 12.72% wall that demands a decisive response. Over 5.8 km, with 368 m of net gain to swallow, the smart move is to read the road ahead and save something for the steepest pitch rather than being caught flat-footed by it.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this short and steady, pacing is about holding just under threshold and refusing to overcook the steep ramp. Anchor your effort to your FTP: riding the 6.36% average close to but below that ceiling keeps you strong enough to absorb the 12.72% pitch without blowing apart. If you do not know your current number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan the ascent. A useful mental model for 5.8 km: treat the shallower sections as recovery, hold power steady through them, and accept a brief surge above threshold on the steepest ramp knowing the summit at 1092 m is close enough to recover into.

Gearing

For a 6.36% average that spikes to 12.72%, give yourself enough range to spin the steep ramp rather than grind it. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most riders up the sustained sections and over the steepest pitch with cadence intact, but if you carry fatigue, ride at higher body weight, or simply prefer to twiddle, a 34×34 gives you that extra margin exactly where the 12.72% ramp threatens to stall you. Choosing the easier gear costs you nothing on the shallower parts and buys real insurance on the hard one.

Summary

Forcella Malbarc rewards a controlled, threshold-aware effort: read the gradient, protect your legs for the 12.72% ramp, and let the short distance work in your favour. It is a climb where good pacing and honest gearing turn a hard 5.8 km into a satisfying one.

Length: 5.8 km
Average gradient: 6.36%
Max gradient: 12.72%
Start: 724 m
Summit: 1092 m
Net gain: 368 m
Total ascent: 310 m
Category: 2