Forcorella di Marzio

Overview

Forcorella di Marzio is a Category 1 climb that asks a serious question of your legs from the very first pedal stroke. Over 7.5 km it averages 7.5%, lifting you from a start elevation of 246 m to a summit of 806 m — a net elevation gain of 560 m and a total ascent of 536 m once the small dips along the way are counted. That average alone would earn respect, but the 14.28% maximum gradient means the climb never lets a steady average tell the whole story. This is a sustained, honest mountain effort with no flat recovery to hide behind.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency layered with sharp punches. A 7.5% average across 7.5 km means the road is almost always tilted against you, rarely offering the shallow stretches where you can freewheel and recover. Where the gradient bites hardest — up to 14.28% — the effort nearly doubles relative to the average, and those ramps are where time is lost and legs are emptied. Because the total ascent (536 m) sits just under the net gain (560 m), there is very little downhill respite mixed in; you climb, and then you climb some more. Expect the steepest pitches to arrive as distinct kicks rather than one endless wall, so reading the road ahead pays dividends.

Pacing Notes

Discipline wins this climb. With 7.5 km at 7.5%, you will be under load for a long, continuous block, so anchor your effort to your sustainable ceiling rather than the early adrenaline. Pace by FTP: aim to ride the steady sections just under threshold so you hold something in reserve for the 14.28% ramps, where power naturally surges. Let those spikes be brief and controlled — bleed a little cadence, keep the effort even, and settle again once the road eases back toward the average. If you are unsure of your number before you commit to the full 560 m of vertical, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so your target watts match what the mountain will demand.

Gearing

On a climb averaging 7.5% with pitches to 14.28%, gearing is not vanity — it is survival. A compact crankset is the sensible foundation, and how large a cassette you pair with it depends on your climbing legs. For most riders, a 34×32 gives enough range to spin the steady 7.5% sections without grinding. But when the road rears to its 14.28% maximum, that extra sprocket matters: a 34×34 lets you keep your cadence up and your knees intact across the hardest ramps. If you tend to fade over long climbs, or you are chasing the full 7.5 km at effort, choose the 34×34 and be glad of it near the top.

Summary

Forcorella di Marzio is a proper Category 1 climb: long enough to test your patience, steep enough to test your ceiling. Pace it by feel and by threshold, gear it generously, and respect the ramps.

Length: 7.5 km
Average gradient: 7.5%
Max gradient: 14.28%
Start: 246 m
Summit: 806 m
Net gain: 560 m
Total ascent: 536 m
Category: 1