Forchia Armentaria

Overview

Forchia Armentaria is a short climb with a savage bite. Over just 5.5 km it averages 11.48%, a figure that leaves almost no room to recover and puts it firmly among the steepest sustained ascents you can ride. From a start elevation of 203 m it hauls you up to a 835 m summit, a net gain of 632 m packed into a distance most riders would consider a warm-up. Rated Category 1, one rung below hors catégorie, it earns that ranking through relentless pitch rather than length. The total ascent of 567 m confirms this is a climb that goes up and stays up, with little of the rolling relief that softens longer efforts.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number here is that 11.48% average. On most climbs an average in double figures hides gentler opening kilometres, but with a max gradient of 23.83% the ramps here reach nearly twice the average. That gap tells you the road pitches hard in places, throwing sections that force you out of the saddle or down to your final sprocket. Because the net gain of 632 m slightly exceeds the total ascent of 567 m as measured, the profile trends upward almost continuously, with no meaningful descents to break the rhythm. Expect a climb that punishes momentum loss: once you stall on a 20%-plus ramp, clawing speed back on an 11%+ grade is brutally expensive.

Pacing Notes

On a wall this steep, pacing is survival. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the urge to hammer the lower slopes, because the 23.83% ramps will extract their toll later. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator. Aim to hold a steady, sustainable power rather than chasing the gradient spikes; on the steepest pitches accept that your speed will crater and focus on cadence and traction. With 5.5 km at 11.48%, a fresh rider might be looking at a sustained near-threshold effort throughout, so hold something in reserve for the ramps toward the 835 m summit.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. With an 11.48% average and 23.83% maximum, a 34×32 is the bare minimum for most riders, and even then you will be grinding on the steepest ramps. A 34×34 is the smarter choice, giving you a lower floor to keep the cranks turning where the road tips past 20%. If you have access to a wider-range cassette or a compact-plus-large-sprocket setup, use it here without ego. Preserving cadence over 632 m of net climbing is what keeps this ascent rideable rather than a series of near-stalls.

Summary

Forchia Armentaria is a concentrated dose of pain: brief in distance but unrelenting in pitch, a Category 1 climb defined by its double-digit average and vicious ramps. Gear low, pace it honestly, and respect the numbers.

Length: 5.5 km
Average gradient: 11.48%
Max gradient: 23.83%
Start: 203 m
Summit: 835 m
Net gain: 632 m
Total ascent: 567 m
Category: 1