Passo Daone

Overview

Passo Daone is a long, patient climb that rewards steady effort over explosive power. At 23.3 km with an average gradient of just 4.01%, it belongs to that category of ascent where the challenge is duration rather than steepness. You start at 82 m and finish at a summit of 1018 m, a net gain of 936 m — but the total ascent of 1040 m tells you the road doesn't rise in a single clean line. Those extra metres come from dips and false flats that give back a little of what you've earned. Ranked as a Category 2 climb, it sits comfortably below the brutal HC and Category 1 monsters, yet its sheer length makes it a genuine test of pacing discipline.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number — 4.01% average — undersells what your legs will feel. Averaged across 23.3 km, that figure smooths out everything interesting. The max gradient of 13.19% is more than three times the average, which means the climb is not uniform: gentle stretches and near-flat recovery sections are balanced against sharp ramps that spike well into double digits. With a net gain of 936 m but a total ascent of 1040 m, roughly 104 m of climbing is "wasted" on re-ascents after descents. Expect a rolling profile where you repeatedly wind up and ease off rather than settling into one fixed rhythm.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, the winning strategy is restraint. Ride the early kilometres well within yourself — the 4.01% average is easy to overcook when fresh, and there are still twenty-plus kilometres and that 13.19% ramp waiting. Anchor your effort to your FTP: aim to sit at or just below threshold on the steady sections, and allow short surges over the steepest pitches, using the flatter stretches to recover. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then translate that into a wattage ceiling you can hold for the full 23.3 km. The riders who blow up here are the ones who treat a 4.01% average like it's easy — it isn't, not for this long.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 4.01% but spiking to 13.19%, gearing is about protecting your cadence on the ramps, not the average. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible choice. A 34×32 will cover most of the climb comfortably, letting you spin the steady gradients. But because of that 13.19% max and the fatigue that builds over 936 m of vertical gain, a 34×34 gives you a genuine bail-out gear for the steepest, latest ramps. If your bike accepts it, fit the 34×34 — the extra range costs you nothing on the flat sections and buys real insurance for the hard pitches near the top.

Summary

Passo Daone is a long-haul Category 2 climb where patience beats power. Modest on average, deceptive in its rollers, and punctuated by one 13.19% sting, it demands smart pacing over 23.3 km and gearing that respects the ramps.

Length: 23.3 km
Average gradient: 4.01%
Max gradient: 13.19%
Start: 82 m
Summit: 1018 m
Net gain: 936 m
Total ascent: 1040 m
Category: 2