Kirchlerscharte - Forcella della Chiesa

Overview

Kirchlerscharte, also known as the Forcella della Chiesa, is one of those climbs that leaves no room to hide. Over 14.7 km it averages a punishing 8.05%, lifting you from a start elevation of 1081 m all the way to a 2261 m summit. That is 1180 m of net vertical gain packed into a single sustained effort, with 1153 m of total ascent recorded along the way. Classified HC — hors catégorie, the hardest rating there is — this is a climb reserved for riders who respect the mountain before they even turn a pedal.

The numbers tell a stark story. An 8.05% average across nearly fifteen kilometres is not a figure softened by flat recovery stretches. Between the start and summit elevations lies a wall of consistent, grinding gradient that rarely relents.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape of Kirchlerscharte is defined by relentlessness rather than a single dramatic spike. With an average of 8.05% and 1180 m of climbing over 14.7 km, the road tilts up and stays up. There is very little difference between the average pitch and what your legs feel mile after mile — this is a climb of attrition, not surprise.

Because total ascent (1153 m) sits close to the net gain (1180 m), you can expect an almost uninterrupted upward line. There are no meaningful downhill breathers to reset your legs. Whatever altitude you gain, you keep. That consistency makes the climb mentally demanding: the summit at 2261 m stays distant for a long time, and every kilometre asks the same steep question.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this sustained, pacing is everything. The single most reliable way to gauge a smart effort is your FTP — the power you can hold for roughly an hour. At 14.7 km and 8.05%, most riders will be climbing for well beyond that window, so target a percentage of threshold you can defend the whole way rather than a number you can only touch fresh.

If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to the mountain. Start conservatively in the opening kilometres from 1081 m; the gradient does not ease, so any early overreach compounds badly on the upper slopes toward 2261 m.

Gearing

Do not underestimate what 8.05% over 14.7 km demands from your cassette. For an HC effort with 1180 m of gain, a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get many strong climbers to the top, but on a gradient this unyielding it can feel marginal deep into the climb.

If you have any doubt about your climbing legs, fit a 34×34. The extra sprocket gives you a lower, more sustainable cadence that protects your knees and your reserves across the full 2261 m ascent. On a climb that never flattens, spinning is almost always faster than grinding.

Summary

Kirchlerscharte - Forcella della Chiesa is a genuine HC test: 14.7 km of sustained 8.05% gradient, 1180 m of net gain, and a summit sitting at 2261 m. Pace it by threshold, gear low, and treat its consistency with respect.

Length: 14.7 km
Average gradient: 8.05%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 1081 m
Summit: 2261 m
Net gain: 1180 m
Total ascent: 1153 m
Category: HC