Giogo di Bala

Overview

The Giogo di Bala is a hors-catégorie climb, the hardest rung on the classification ladder, and it earns that label the honest way — with length and relentless steepness rather than a single wall. Over 24.3 km the road lifts you from 223 m at the base to 2135 m at the summit, a net gain of 1912 m. The average gradient reads 7.87%, but averages flatter the truth: with a max pitch of 18.58%, there are stretches here that more than double the mean. This is a climb you settle into, not one you attack.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 7.87% average across 24.3 km is not a number you outrun. Do the arithmetic and the scale becomes clear: 1912 m of net gain over that distance, with 1903 m of total ascent — meaning almost the entire climb is uphill, with only trivial respite along the way. That near-identical pairing of net gain and total ascent tells you the road rarely gives anything back; there are no meaningful descents to recover on.

The 18.58% maximum is more than ten points above the average, so expect the gradient to swing. Long sustained ramps around and above the mean will be punctuated by sharper kicks. Treat every eased section as a chance to breathe, because the road will steepen again before you reach 2135 m.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power rather than the gradient in front of you — a good target for a 24.3 km ascent is a shade below your FTP, leaving headroom for the 18.58% pitches without blowing apart. If you do not know your threshold, the FTP estimator will give you a working figure to plan around.

Ration your matches. With 1912 m to gain, going into the red early on a steep ramp costs you far more than the seconds it saves. Ride the steep sections seated and steady where you can, save any surge for the final approach to the 2135 m summit, and let the flatter passages be genuine recovery.

Gearing

At 7.87% average and 18.58% maximum over 24.3 km, gear low and gear early. A compact 34-tooth inner paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline: 34×32 will carry most riders through the sustained middle sections. But given the max pitch and the sheer 1912 m of climbing, a 34×34 is the smarter insurance — that extra sprocket keeps your cadence up on the steepest ramps and protects your legs across the full 24.3 km. If your frame and derailleur accept it, take the easier ratio. You will never regret spinning on an HC climb.

Summary

The Giogo di Bala is a complete HC test: long, steep, and unbroken from 223 m to 2135 m. Pace it by power, gear low, and respect the 1912 m in front of you.

Length: 24.3 km
Average gradient: 7.87%
Max gradient: 18.58%
Start: 223 m
Summit: 2135 m
Net gain: 1912 m
Total ascent: 1903 m
Category: HC