Pas de Sainte-Anne / Passo Sant'Anna

Overview

The Pas de Sainte-Anne, known on the Italian side as the Passo Sant'Anna, is a genuine hors catégorie monster. From a start elevation of 485 m it grinds all the way to a summit of 2348 m, a net gain of 1863 m over 30.4 km. The average gradient is 6.13%, which sounds civilised until you register the distance: three hours of climbing is a realistic outcome for most riders, and there is nowhere to truly recover. This is a climb defined by its length and its altitude, and it demands respect from the first kilometre.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.13% average across 30.4 km hides real variation. The total ascent of 1840 m sits just below the net gain of 1863 m, which tells you almost the entire route is uphill — there are no meaningful descents or false flats to break the rhythm. The defining feature is a 16.53% maximum pinch, nearly triple the average. Expect the gradient to swing between forgiving stretches where you can settle and steep ramps that force you out of the saddle. Because the climb tops out at 2348 m, the final third plays out at genuine altitude, where thinner air steepens every percentage point you feel in the legs even when the road itself eases.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit slightly below threshold for the bulk of the 30.4 km, saving headroom for the 16.53% ramp and the altitude drag near the 2348 m summit. If you go into the red early, the remaining net gain of 1863 m will be a survival march rather than a ride. Not sure what your threshold is? Run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. Fuel steadily and drink often — at over 2000 m the effort compounds quietly.

Gearing

Come prepared to spin. For an HC climb of 30.4 km at 6.13% with a 16.53% maximum, most riders will want a compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 is the sensible baseline and will carry strong climbers through the majority of the gradient. But given the length, the altitude, and that steep pinch, err toward a 34×34 if your derailleur accepts it — the extra cog is cheap insurance across 1863 m of gaining, and preserving cadence over three hours matters more than any perceived pride in a smaller sprocket.

Summary

The Pas de Sainte-Anne / Passo Sant'Anna is a complete mountain: long, high, and unrelenting. Pace it to your threshold, gear low, fuel well, and treat the 16.53% ramp and the thin air near 2348 m with the caution they deserve. Do that, and 30.4 km of hors catégorie climbing becomes one of the great days on the bike.

Length: 30.4 km
Average gradient: 6.13%
Max gradient: 16.53%
Start: 485 m
Summit: 2348 m
Net gain: 1863 m
Total ascent: 1840 m
Category: HC