Ligurasa

Overview

Ligurasa is a hors catégorie climb, and the numbers explain why. Over just 5.7 km it averages a savage 11.92%, dragging you from a start elevation of 408 m to a summit at 1084 m. That is 676 m of net gain packed into under six kilometres, with 623 m of total ascent along the way — a wall by any reasonable definition. When a road holds a double-digit average for its entire length, there is no rhythm section, no false flat to recover on, just relentless upward pressure. The 15.37% maximum tells you the steepest pitches are genuinely fierce, the kind that force you out of the saddle whether you planned to stand or not.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of Ligurasa less as a climb with distinct phases and more as one sustained effort that occasionally gets worse. With an 11.92% average across 5.7 km, the gentler stretches are still steep, and the hardest ramps punch up toward 15.37%. The gap between the average and the max is only a few percent, which is telling: this is not a climb defined by one monster pitch surrounded by easy road. It is uniformly hard, so the steepest sections feel like a step up from an already demanding baseline rather than a shock. The near-parity of net gain (676 m) and total ascent (623 m) confirms the profile barely dips — you climb almost every metre you cover.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is about survival, not finesse. Ride the opening kilometre well under what feels sustainable, because 11.92% gives you nowhere to shed accumulated fatigue. A useful anchor is your FTP: on Ligurasa you will spend most of the ascent riding at or just above threshold, so knowing that number keeps you from redlining in the first minutes and blowing up before the summit. If you are unsure of yours, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit. Save whatever you have left for the 15.37% ramps — those are where a too-hot start turns into a walk.

Gearing

Do not underestimate what an 11.92% average asks of your legs and drivetrain. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front end here. Paired with a 34×32, you have a near 1:1 ratio that will hold most of the climb, but on the 15.37% pitches even that can feel heavy when your legs are cooked late in the 5.7 km. If your bike accepts it, a 34×34 gives you meaningful extra relief and lets you keep a spinning cadence rather than grinding. On a hors catégorie wall gaining 676 m, err toward the easier setup — you will never regret the extra gear.

Summary

Ligurasa is a short climb only on paper. Its 11.92% average, 15.37% max, and 676 m of gain across 5.7 km make it a true HC test of raw climbing strength. Pace it conservatively, gear it generously, and respect that the road never lets up.

Length: 5.7 km
Average gradient: 11.92%
Max gradient: 15.37%
Start: 408 m
Summit: 1084 m
Net gain: 676 m
Total ascent: 623 m
Category: HC