Forcella Nuvolau

Overview

Forcella Nuvolau is a long-haul category 1 climb that trades brutal steepness for relentless duration. Over 28.1 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 951 m to a summit of 2099 m — a net elevation gain of 1148 m with 1145 m of total ascent, meaning almost every metre gained is a metre kept. The average gradient of 4.08% sounds gentle on paper, and much of the climb is, but that number hides a maximum pitch of 11% and the simple truth that nearly two hours of continuous uphill is its own kind of difficulty. This is a climb of patience, not panic.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The near-perfect match between the 1148 m net gain and the 1145 m total ascent tells you almost everything about the shape of this road: it climbs, and keeps climbing, with barely a metre of descent to break the rhythm. There are no false valleys to recover in and no long plateaus to coast across. Instead, the 4.08% average is stitched together from long moderate drags punctuated by steeper kicks that top out at 11%. Expect the road to sit comfortably below average for long stretches, then rear up into single steeper ramps that force a gear change and a moment of honesty about how hard you started. The final push to 2099 m is where the thin mountain air compounds the gradient's effect.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is the whole game. The 4.08% average makes it tempting to push a big gear early, but 28.1 km rewards restraint. Target an effort you can hold for the full duration — for most riders that means settling just under threshold and treating the 11% ramps as short overspends rather than a new baseline. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to spend the bulk of the climb a touch below it, leaving headroom for the steeper pitches near the 2099 m summit. If you're unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you go so your power targets reflect reality rather than optimism. Ride the average, not the ramps, and the 1148 m of gain will come to you.

Gearing

Because the punishing factor here is length rather than raw steepness, gearing is about protecting your legs across the full 28.1 km, not just surviving the 11% max. A compact 34-tooth inner ring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most fit riders enough range to spin the steeper pitches without grinding, keeping cadence high and your knees happy over a climb this sustained. If you tire on long efforts, weigh a fully loaded bike, or simply want insurance for the ramps at altitude near the top, a 34×34 setup buys you one more forgiving gear for very little penalty. For a 1148 m ascent, err toward the easier ratio.

Summary

Forcella Nuvolau is a test of steady, disciplined climbing: 28.1 km of near-continuous ascent to a high 2099 m summit, with a friendly-looking 4.08% average that only reveals its cost over time. Pace it below threshold, gear for endurance, and let the numbers do the work.

Length: 28.1 km
Average gradient: 4.08%
Max gradient: 11%
Start: 951 m
Summit: 2099 m
Net gain: 1148 m
Total ascent: 1145 m
Category: 1