Forcella Staulanza

Overview

Forcella Staulanza is a long, category 1 haul that rewards patience over punch. It runs 24.6 km from a start elevation of 763 m up to a 1767 m summit, giving a net elevation gain of 1004 m. The average gradient of 4.09% reads gentle on paper, and for long stretches it genuinely is — but that number hides a sting, because somewhere on the climb the road kicks up to a fierce 18.12% maximum. With 1012 m of total ascent packed into nearly 25 kilometres, this is a climb of endurance first and explosiveness second.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story here is one of averages that lie. At 4.09% across 24.6 km, Staulanza belongs to the family of climbs where the danger is not the summit but the middle — the shallow sections tempt you into overspending, and the total ascent of 1012 m against a net gain of 1004 m tells you the road is not a clean, monotonic ramp. That 8 m gap between total ascent and net gain means there are dips and false flats built into the profile, small descents you pay back later.

The headline hazard is the 18.12% pitch. A spike that steep on a climb averaging just over 4% is a shock to the legs precisely because your body has settled into a low-intensity rhythm. When it arrives, cadence collapses and the effort spikes far above anything the average suggests. Everything else on the climb is about managing the long middle so you still have something left when the gradient turns cruel.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline in the opening kilometres decides everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold the shallow early gradients well below threshold — the 4.09% average makes it dangerously easy to ride the first third too hard. If you do not know your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target, because your pacing plan is only as good as the wattage figure behind it.

Treat the 18.12% ramp as a separate event. Roll into it with reserve, drop to your easiest gear early, and let cadence — not ego — dictate the effort. Over 1004 m of gain, the riders who finish strong are the ones who spent the middle 20 km slightly bored.

Gearing

For a 24.6 km climb topping out at 18.12%, gear for the worst pitch, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most trained riders through the steep ramp, but on tired legs late in a 1004 m ascent, a 34×34 buys you the extra spin to keep the pedals turning without grinding to a stall. If you tend to fade over long efforts, choose the 34×34.

Summary

Forcella Staulanza is a deceptively long category 1 climb: gentle on average, brutal in one place, and unforgiving of riders who mistake 4.09% for easy. Pace the middle, respect the ramp, and gear low.

Length: 24.6 km
Average gradient: 4.09%
Max gradient: 18.12%
Start: 763 m
Summit: 1767 m
Net gain: 1004 m
Total ascent: 1012 m
Category: 1