Forcella Pordoi

Overview

Forcella Pordoi is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest rung on the classification ladder, and its numbers explain why. Over 24.6 km the road drags you from a start elevation of 730 m up to a summit of 2229 m — a net elevation gain of 1499 m, with 1474 m of total ascent packed into a single sustained effort. The average gradient of 6.11% sounds civilized, but at this length that figure is a war of attrition rather than a sprint. This is a climb measured in patience, not punchiness.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 6.11% hides real variation. With a max gradient of 13.24%, there are stretches more than double the mean, and those ramps arrive when your legs are already deep into the effort. Because net gain (1499 m) sits slightly above total ascent (1474 m) — a difference of 25 m — the profile is almost entirely uphill, with only the faintest respite along the way. Expect long, honest gradients hovering near the average, punctuated by sharper pitches that spike toward the 13.24% ceiling. Read the road ahead: settle into the 6% sections and hold something in reserve for the steep bites.

Pacing Notes

At 24.6 km, this is an effort best ridden at a controlled, threshold-adjacent pace rather than a series of surges. Pin your target to a percentage of your FTP and resist the temptation to chase the early kilometers — the summit at 2229 m is a long way up, and thin air near the top will quietly tax you. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a number, then hold that ceiling steady across the whole 24.6 km. On the 13.24% ramps, let cadence drop and power spike briefly, then return to your sustainable band as the gradient eases back toward 6.11%.

Gearing

Gearing is where an HC climb of this length rewards planning. With 1499 m of climbing at 6.11% average and pitches to 13.24%, you want a bailout gear that lets you spin rather than grind. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will handle the sustained 6% work comfortably, but on the steepest 13.24% sections — especially with fatigue after 20-plus kilometers — a 34×34 buys you meaningful breathing room. If your legs or your loaded bike leave any doubt, choose the lower gear; there is no prize for over-gearing on a climb this long.

Summary

Forcella Pordoi is a classic HC test of endurance: not the steepest climb you will ever ride, but one of the most sustained. Pace it by threshold, gear it for the ramps, and let the 24.6 km come to you one honest kilometer at a time.

Length: 24.6 km
Average gradient: 6.11%
Max gradient: 13.24%
Start: 730 m
Summit: 2229 m
Net gain: 1499 m
Total ascent: 1474 m
Category: HC