Forcella Sabbiosa

Overview

Forcella Sabbiosa is a long, demanding category 1 climb that stretches 30.4 km from a valley floor at 793 m up to a summit at 2156 m. On paper its 4.48% average gradient reads gently, but that figure hides the climb's true character. Over its full length it delivers 1363 m of net elevation gain and 1322 m of total ascent, meaning almost every metre you climb is a metre you keep — this is a road that trends relentlessly upward rather than rolling. The gap between the tame average and the 25.55% maximum tells you everything: this is a climb of wildly uneven pitches, and respecting that variance is the difference between arriving fresh and blowing apart.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is length paired with irregularity. A 4.48% average across 30.4 km would, if evenly graded, feel like a steady tempo effort you could hold for over an hour. It is not evenly graded. Sections that dip toward flat or false-flat inevitably force the steep ramps higher to preserve the average, and the 25.55% maximum confirms there are pitches steep enough to force you out of the saddle or into a walk. Expect the climb to breathe: stretches where you settle into rhythm, punctuated by sharp kicks that spike your heart rate. Because the summit sits at 2156 m, thinner air on the upper third quietly saps power, so ramps that felt manageable low down bite harder near the top.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something in reserve for the steep ramps rather than burning matches early. If you don't have a current number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the day. Aim to ride the shallow sections just below threshold so you have headroom when the gradient jumps toward that 25.55% maximum. With 1363 m of climbing ahead, going into the red in the first third almost guarantees a slow, painful final stretch. Fuel steadily throughout — a 30.4 km ascent is an endurance event, not a sprint.

Gearing

Gear for the maximum, not the average. Pitches approaching 25.55% will overwhelm anything too tall, so a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is essential. A 34×32 is the sensible baseline for most riders and will get you up the bulk of the climb, but given the sustained 1363 m of gain and the severity of the steepest ramps, a 34×34 provides the extra margin to spin rather than grind when the road tilts hard. If your legs are fresh you may never need the biggest sprocket — but at 2156 m and 30 km deep, you will be grateful it is there.

Summary

Forcella Sabbiosa rewards patience, smart pacing, and low gearing. Treat the modest average with suspicion, save your legs for the steep ramps, and let a wide cassette carry you to the summit.

Length: 30.4 km
Average gradient: 4.48%
Max gradient: 25.55%
Start: 793 m
Summit: 2156 m
Net gain: 1363 m
Total ascent: 1322 m
Category: 1