Forcella Vacalizza

Overview

Forcella Vacalizza is a hors catégorie climb that packs a staggering amount of vertical into very little distance. Over just 7 km it averages 12.95%, a figure that would be punishing on a short wall and is close to inhuman across this length. You start at 648 m and finish at 1560 m, a net gain of 912 m, with a total ascent of 845 m once you account for the handful of brief flatter breaks along the way. The HC label is not a formality here — it is a warning. This is a climb defined almost entirely by relentless steepness rather than length.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 12.95% average, but averages hide the real story on a climb like this. With a maximum pitch of 39.24%, Forcella Vacalizza contains gradients that most riders will never have pedalled before — sections steep enough that traction, balance, and simply keeping the front wheel down become genuine concerns. Because the total ascent (845 m) sits below the net elevation gain (912 m), you can infer there is essentially no descending: the climb only ever goes up, with a few short easings that let the average settle rather than any true recovery. Expect the road to lurch between hard and savage, with the double-digit average meaning even the "gentle" moments are still tough grinding.

Pacing Notes

At this gradient, pacing is less about splits and more about survival. Your power will spike violently on the steepest ramps toward that 39.24% maximum, so the goal is to keep your effort anchored around a sustainable ceiling rather than chasing a steady number. Knowing your FTP is essential — it tells you what you can hold for the roughly 7 km of climbing without blowing apart on a wall you cannot coast down. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit. On slopes this steep, momentum vanishes the instant you stop pedalling, so err on the conservative side early; there is no flat to recover on, and every metre of the 912 m gain must be earned turn by turn.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. On a wall averaging 12.95% and touching 39.24%, standard compact setups will leave you overgeared and grinding at cadences that wreck your legs. A 34×32 is the sensible minimum for strong climbers, but for most riders a 34×34 will make the difference between spinning and stalling on the steepest pitches. If your bike accepts an even larger cassette or a sub-compact chainring, take it — you will never regret extra range on a 7 km HC ascent that climbs 912 m.

Summary

Forcella Vacalizza is a short, ferociously steep HC test where 7 km feels far longer than the distance suggests. Come prepared with easy gears, a conservative pace, and respect for the 39.24% ramps.

Length: 7 km
Average gradient: 12.95%
Max gradient: 39.24%
Start: 648 m
Summit: 1560 m
Net gain: 912 m
Total ascent: 845 m
Category: HC