Jù dal'Ega

Overview

Jù dal'Ega is a long, sustained category-1 ascent that rewards patience over punch. Across 18.7 km the road climbs from 1085 m at the base to a 2171 m summit, a net gain of 1086 m. The average gradient reads 5.8%, which sounds civil, but the 25.87% maximum pitch tells you the climb hides a genuine wall somewhere in its length. At nearly nineteen kilometres this is a big-mountain effort: the kind of climb where the first pedal strokes and the last should feel like two different rides.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 5.8% average, and much of Jù dal'Ega sits close to that figure — a steady, rhythmic grade you can settle into and hold. What separates it from a simple tempo drag is the spread between average and maximum. A 25.87% ramp is more than four times steeper than the mean, so the climb is not uniform: gentler stretches must be balanced by short, brutal kicks. Note also that the net elevation gain (1086 m) sits slightly above the total ascent figure (1045 m), a small quirk that hints at a road profile which is almost entirely uphill with little relief. Expect long, honest climbing punctuated by a handful of severe pitches.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline early is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something just below threshold through the sustained 5.8% sections, keeping reserve for the steep ramps. Blowing up on an 18.7 km climb costs you far more than the seconds you gain by pushing the lower slopes. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your pacing. When the gradient spikes toward 25.87%, accept that your power will surge briefly — that is unavoidable — then immediately settle back to your target once the road relents. Fuel and drink steadily; over more than eighteen kilometres and 1086 m of vertical, the effort is decided by consistency, not heroics.

Gearing

Gear for the wall, not the average. With a maximum of 25.87% and a summit at 2171 m, you want low ratios in reserve. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 is a sensible baseline for most riders on a climb of this length, giving you a spinnable escape on the steady 5.8% grades. But given how steep the hardest pitch is, many riders will be grateful for a 34×34, which buys extra cadence for that 25.87% ramp without wrecking the legs. If your setup allows an even larger cassette, take it — spinning a low gear over 18.7 km protects you far better than grinding.

Summary

Jù dal'Ega is a true endurance climb: long, steady, and topped with a sting. Respect the 18.7 km, ration your effort against the 5.8% average, and carry gearing that can absorb the 25.87% pitch. Climb it well and the 2171 m summit is a memorable payoff.

Length: 18.7 km
Average gradient: 5.8%
Max gradient: 25.87%
Start: 1085 m
Summit: 2171 m
Net gain: 1086 m
Total ascent: 1045 m
Category: 1