La Colma di Val Ravella

Overview

La Colma di Val Ravella is a short climb only by the map. Over 4.5 km it averages a punishing 13.99%, lifting you from 393 m at the base to 1017 m at the summit — a net gain of 624 m. The classification says everything you need to know: HC, hors catégorie, the hardest rung on the ladder above categories 1 through 4. This is not a climb you settle into. It is a climb you survive.

At just 4.5 km, the temptation is to treat it as a sprint. Resist that. An average of nearly 14% sustained for the full length is closer to a time trial up a wall, and the 25.95% max gradient waiting somewhere on the road will punish anyone who spent their matches early.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline numbers frame the shape. With a 13.99% average and a 25.95% maximum, the climb never really relents, and its steepest pitch is almost double the mean. That gap tells you the road is not smoothly graded — expect the incline to swing well above the average in places, then ease back toward it, but never toward flat.

Total ascent registers at 597 m against a net gain of 624 m, meaning the profile is essentially uphill from wheel to summit. There is no meaningful descent to recover on, no false flat to spin out the legs. Every metre of the 4.5 km is working against you, and the elevation stacks steadily from 393 m to 1017 m.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is about damage control, not negotiation. Your FTP is the number that matters here: sustaining anything near it for the duration of a 13.99% average is a serious ask, and going over it early on the 25.95% ramps is how you end up walking.

Ride the steep sections just above threshold and the shallower stretches just below, keeping your average effort honest. If you do not know your threshold, estimate it first with the FTP estimator so you can set a wattage ceiling before you start rather than discovering it halfway up.

Gearing

Gear for the worst pitch, not the average. On a wall that hits 25.95%, undergearing turns pedalling into a series of standing lunges that torch your legs long before the summit.

A compact 34-tooth chainring is the starting point. Pair it with at least a 34×32 if you have strong legs and low bodyweight, but for most riders a 34×34 is the smarter choice on a climb averaging 13.99% — that extra sprocket buys you a cadence you can actually turn over on the steepest ramps. If your bike allows an even larger cassette, take it. There is no such thing as a gear too easy at 25.95%.

Summary

La Colma di Val Ravella is a compact monster: short enough to read in a glance, steep enough to redefine your idea of hard. Gear low, pace by threshold, and respect the 25.95% before it disrespects you.

Length: 4.5 km
Average gradient: 13.99%
Max gradient: 25.95%
Start: 393 m
Summit: 1017 m
Net gain: 624 m
Total ascent: 597 m
Category: HC