Forcella Pièltinis

Overview

Forcella Pièltinis is a genuine hors catégorie (HC) test — the hardest tier of climb, sitting above categories 1 through 4. From a start elevation of 420 m it grinds upward across 23.8 km to a summit of 1889 m, a net elevation gain of 1469 m. The total ascent of 1543 m tells you the road is not relentlessly one-directional: there are 74 m of interruptions where the profile dips before clawing back. At an average gradient of 6.18% this is a long, sustained effort rather than a short brutal wall — but a spike to 19.08% means you cannot treat the whole thing as steady tempo.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number, 6.18% averaged over 23.8 km, hides real variety. Because total ascent (1543 m) exceeds net gain (1469 m), a portion of the climb gives elevation back, meaning the working sections must be steeper than 6.18% to compensate. That is confirmed by the 19.08% maximum — nearly three times the average. Expect the effort to arrive in layers: stretches around the average that let you settle into a rhythm, punctuated by pitches that jump well into double digits. The 74 m difference between ascent and net gain also means brief recovery, false flats or short descents where you can breathe, spin, and reset before the next hard rise. Plan for the climb to feel harder than its average suggests.

Pacing Notes

Over an effort this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your pace to your FTP and hold the sustained sections comfortably below threshold, saving matches for the steep ramps toward 19.08% where staying seated and steady is worth more than surging. With 23.8 km of climbing, a single overcooked early effort can cost you the top third of the climb. If you do not know your threshold, get a number first with the FTP estimator, then set target power bands for the 6.18% cruising sections versus the steep pitches. On the short dips within the 74 m of give-back, keep pedalling lightly rather than coasting — momentum here is free speed into the next rise.

Gearing

With an HC climb of 1469 m of gain and pitches hitting 19.08%, gearing is not the place to be brave. A compact 34-tooth inner ring is the sensible baseline. On the sustained 6.18% grades a 34×32 will keep your cadence honest, but the moment the road tips toward 19.08% that ratio gets ugly fast. If your climbing legs or your loaded weight give any doubt, fit a 34×34 — the extra sprocket buys you a lower floor for the steepest ramps and lets you protect your legs across the full 23.8 km. Better to spin an easy gear you did not strictly need than to grind one you did.

Summary

Forcella Pièltinis rewards patience: pace the long 6.18% body of the climb, respect the 19.08% spikes, and gear low enough to keep spinning to the 1889 m summit. Get those three right and 1469 m of vertical becomes a rhythm rather than a fight.

Length: 23.8 km
Average gradient: 6.18%
Max gradient: 19.08%
Start: 420 m
Summit: 1889 m
Net gain: 1469 m
Total ascent: 1543 m
Category: HC