Forcola

Overview

Forcola is one of the hardest climbs you can point a bike at. Over 14.3 km it averages a savage 10.49%, lifting you from a start elevation of 199 m to a summit at 1698 m. That is a net gain of 1499 m, with a total ascent of 1470 m once you account for the handful of respites along the way. The gap between those two figures — just 29 m — tells you almost everything: this road barely stops climbing. There are no false flats to coast, no long descents to recover. It earns its HC (hors catégorie) rating not through a single wall but through relentless, sustained steepness that punishes every kilogram and every watt you bring to it.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 10.49% average is already extreme, but the max gradient of 26.66% reveals the real character of Forcola: this is a climb of spikes. With total ascent (1470 m) sitting only 29 m below net gain (1499 m), the road climbs almost continuously — the average is not softened by flat sections, which means long stretches must sit well above 10% to balance the steepest ramps. Expect the gradient to swing hard, with pitches more than doubling the average and briefly clawing toward that 26.66% peak. On a climb this shape, the danger is not the top number but how often the road lingers in the teens between those spikes.

Pacing Notes

The single biggest mistake on Forcola is starting too hard. At 10.49% average over 14.3 km, this is a sustained threshold effort measured in tens of minutes, not a punchy attack. Anchor your pace to your FTP and hold something you can defend for the full 1499 m of gain — the ramps toward 26.66% will spike your power involuntarily, so leave headroom. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit. Ride the steepest pitches by feel, letting cadence sag briefly rather than burying yourself, then settle back to your target the moment the gradient eases off the peak.

Gearing

Do not under-gear Forcola. On a climb averaging 10.49% with ramps to 26.66%, a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the minimum sensible setup. A 34×32 will get many strong riders up, but on the steepest spikes it leaves you grinding at a low, knee-loading cadence for long minutes. For most riders a 34×34 is the smarter choice — that extra sprocket buys you a spin-able cadence when the road tips past 20% and preserves your legs across the full 14.3 km. If your bike accepts an even larger cassette, take it. There is no prize for suffering in too big a gear here.

Summary

Forcola is a pure test of climbing endurance: 14.3 km that almost never lets up, averaging 10.49% and gaining 1499 m to a summit at 1698 m. Gear low, pace to your threshold, and respect the ramps that reach 26.66%. Do this right and the HC rating becomes an achievement rather than a warning.

Length: 14.3 km
Average gradient: 10.49%
Max gradient: 26.66%
Start: 199 m
Summit: 1698 m
Net gain: 1499 m
Total ascent: 1470 m
Category: HC