Forcella Mincigos

Overview

Forcella Mincigos is short on paper and savage in the legs. In just 2.8 km it hauls you from 428 m to 851 m, a net gain of 423 m at an average gradient of 15.19%. That average is the headline number, and it is a terrifying one: most riders never race a sustained double-digit percentage, and here it is the baseline rather than the exception. Category 1 tells you the rest — this is a climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke, with a max pitch of 39.49% waiting somewhere along the way.

To put the shape in perspective, an average of 15.19% over 2.8 km means there is nowhere to truly recover. The total ascent of 402 m sits just under the net gain of 423 m, which tells you this is a relentless one-way climb with almost no downhill or flat to break the rhythm. You go up, and you keep going up.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature is the gap between average and maximum. A 15.19% average is already brutal, but a 39.49% max is more than double that — a ramp steep enough that momentum, traction and simple balance all become live problems. Expect the profile to swing hard around that mean: stretches where the road eases toward the low teens, punctuated by pitches that spike toward the maximum and force you out of the saddle whether you planned to stand or not.

Because the climb is only 2.8 km long, those spikes arrive fast and frequently. There is no long tempo drag where you can settle into a number and hold it. Instead you are constantly re-reading the road, shifting weight forward to keep the front wheel down on the steepest kicks, and managing the fact that a 39.49% wall can bring you nearly to a standstill in a single crank rotation.

Pacing Notes

Forget even-effort pacing here. On a climb averaging 15.19% with ramps toward 39.49%, your power will spike well above threshold on the steep pitches no matter how disciplined you are. The goal is not to hold a steady wattage but to survive the spikes without blowing apart — soft-pedal the (relatively) shallower sections to bank a little recovery before the next wall.

Know your ceiling before you start. Your FTP is the reference point for how long you can hover above threshold, and on a climb this steep you will spend real time there. If you are unsure of your current number, run the FTP estimator first and pace the opening ramps conservatively — going deep in the first kilometre of a 2.8 km, 15.19% wall is how climbs like this end in a walk.

Gearing

Gear as low as your drivetrain allows. On a 15.19% average with 39.49% spikes, this is not the place for pride. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is the sensible floor for strong climbers, and even then the steepest pitches will have you grinding at very low cadence. Most riders will be far happier on a 34×34, and anything easier still is entirely justified on terrain this severe.

If your bike can take a wide-range cassette or a sub-compact crank, fit it before you attempt this climb. The extra range is not a luxury on Forcella Mincigos — it is the difference between riding the 39.49% ramps and pushing your bike up them.

Summary

Forcella Mincigos packs a full-category ordeal into 2.8 km: an average of 15.19%, a maximum of 39.49%, and 423 m of climbing that leaves no room to breathe. Gear low, pace the spikes, and treat every metre with respect.

Length: 2.8 km
Average gradient: 15.19%
Max gradient: 39.49%
Start: 428 m
Summit: 851 m
Net gain: 423 m
Total ascent: 402 m
Category: 1