Forcella Palantina

Overview

Forcella Palantina is a monster of an ascent, and the raw numbers leave no doubt: 36.5 km of continuous climbing that lifts you from a valley floor at 65 m all the way to a summit at 2110 m. That is a net gain of 2045 m, but the road gives back and takes again along the way, so your legs actually absorb 2283 m of total ascent by the time you top out. With an average gradient of 5.6% and a maximum that stabs up to 28.36%, this is a classic HC (hors catégorie) effort — the hardest category there is, sitting above 1, 2, 3 and 4. It is a climb that rewards patience and punishes ego.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.6% average is honest but deceptive. Over 36.5 km that mean gradient hides enormous variety: the difference between the 2283 m you actually climb and the 2045 m of net gain tells you there are false flats, dips and recoveries baked into the profile. That is 238 m of extra vertical you pay for in undulations. The headline danger is the 28.36% max pitch — a wall roughly five times steeper than the average. Ramps like that do not last long, but they arrive when you are already deep into the effort, and they can shatter a rhythm you have spent an hour building. Expect long, sustainable stretches broken by short, savage kicks.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. The single biggest mistake is treating the gentle-looking 5.6% average as an invitation to push early. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something in reserve for the steep ramps, where the 28.36% sections will spike your power far above threshold whether you like it or not. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so you can set realistic targets for a sustained effort measured in hours, not minutes. Ride the shallow kilometres at a controlled tempo, then let the steep pitches be the only place your power climbs — never the flats.

Gearing

Gear for survival, not for pride. With pitches touching 28.36% at the back end of a 36.5 km climb, you want the widest range you can bolt on. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low is the sensible minimum here, and many riders will be grateful for a 34×34 to keep the cadence spinning when the road rears up near the summit. If your bike accepts an even larger cassette, take it — on 2283 m of accumulated ascent, a lower gear is never wasted. The goal is to stay seated and spinning through the steepest ramps rather than grinding to a halt.

Summary

Forcella Palantina is a long, uncompromising HC climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke to the last. Pace it conservatively, gear it generously, and let the 5.6% average carry you toward a summit that sits over two kilometres above where you started.

Length: 36.5 km
Average gradient: 5.6%
Max gradient: 28.36%
Start: 65 m
Summit: 2110 m
Net gain: 2045 m
Total ascent: 2283 m
Category: HC