Foscagno Pass

Overview

Foscagno Pass is a Category 1 climb in Italy, covering 12.2 km from a start elevation of 1445 m to a summit of 2308 m. Over that distance it delivers 863 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 7.08%. Those are the headline numbers, and on paper they describe a long, steady effort that starts high and finishes higher still.

The average, though, undersells the work. Total ascent on Foscagno is 1243 m — 380 m more than the 863 m net gain. That gap is undulation: the road repeatedly gives back altitude and forces you to reclaim it. You climb the equivalent of 1243 m to net 863 m, so the effort is closer to the total-ascent figure than the net gain suggests. Expect the climb to feel harder than a smooth 7.08% ramp of the same net height.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.08% average is a blend of pitches that are both flatter and far steeper than the mean. With a maximum gradient of 20.07%, there are ramps more than double the average waiting for you, and the recovery sections between them are what let that average settle where it does.

• Flatter or descending stretches where the road gives back some of that 380 m of undulation — use them to recover and eat.
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the 1243 m total ascent rather than one continuous grade.
• At least one severe ramp approaching the 20.07% maximum, where cadence collapses if you are over-geared.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like Foscagno, chase even effort, not even speed. Holding a constant km-per-hour means surging on the steep ramps and coasting on the flatter recovery sections — exactly the pattern that empties your legs before the 2308 m summit. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain.

Anchor your target to a percentage of threshold you can hold for the full 12.2 km. If you don't know that number, run the FTP estimator first, then ride the steep pitches slightly under target and let the flatter sections bring your average effort back up.

Gearing

Gearing here is governed by the steep end, not the average. A 20.07% ramp will overwhelm a standard road setup, so bring a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a climbing gear that keeps cadence up when the road kicks. The goal is to spin the steepest pitches rather than grind them at unsustainable torque.

Check your setup before the ride. Confirm the cassette and derailleur actually deliver the low gear you expect, and that everything shifts cleanly under load — the ramps on Foscagno are the wrong place to discover you're a few teeth short.

Summary

• Length: 12.2 km
• Average gradient: 7.08%
• Maximum gradient: 20.07%
• Net elevation gain: 863 m
• Total ascent: 1243 m
• Category: 1

Foscagno rewards riders who respect the gap between its net gain and its total ascent. Pace by effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and the 863 m to the 2308 m summit will come in under control.