Passo dei Branchi

Overview

Passo dei Branchi is a category 2 climb that packs a genuine punch into a compact 7.3 km. From a valley floor at 237 m it rises to a summit of 747 m, a net gain of 510 m at an average gradient of 6.99%. That average alone marks it as a serious effort, but the headline number is the 18.71% max — a wall steep enough to change how you approach the whole ascent. Total ascent registers at 496 m, meaning the road is almost relentlessly uphill with little in the way of false flat or recovery.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The maths tell a clear story. A climb averaging 6.99% that also touches 18.71% is not evenly paved: the steepest section is more than two and a half times the average, so gentler stretches must balance out those savage ramps. Expect the gradient to pulse rather than hold steady. Where the road eases toward 4–5%, you can breathe and roll; where it rears up toward the max, cadence collapses and it becomes a pure strength effort. Over 7.3 km, with 510 m of net gain, the climb averages roughly 70 m of vertical for every kilometre — a steady, punishing rhythm interrupted by sharp escalations.

Pacing Notes

The single biggest pacing mistake on a climb like Branchi is burning matches on the first steep ramp and paying for it near the top. Anchor your effort to your FTP rather than to the gradient you happen to see. On the shallower pitches, sit slightly below threshold to conserve; on the ramps toward 18.71%, accept a short surge above FTP because there is simply no gearing low enough to keep power flat. Averaged across the full 7.3 km, aim to finish having spent evenly rather than in one heroic early push. If you are unsure what number to target, run the FTP estimator first and build your climb pacing around the result.

Gearing

With a 6.99% average and spikes to 18.71%, gearing is where this climb is won or lost. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the starting point. Paired with a 34×32 cassette, most strong riders will hold a workable cadence through the mid-sections, but the steepest ramps will still bite hard. If you weigh more, climb less often, or simply want to spin rather than grind, step up to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket buys precious cadence exactly where the road hits its 18.71% max and keeps your knees and back out of trouble. For a 510 m gain over 7.3 km, err toward the easier ratio; you will rarely regret a spare gear on a wall.

Summary

Passo dei Branchi rewards riders who respect its shape: a short 7.3 km that hides brutal pitches inside a 6.99% average. Pace off your FTP, gear low enough for the 18.71% ramps, and the 510 m of climbing from 237 m to 747 m becomes a satisfying category 2 conquest rather than a survival slog.

Length: 7.3 km
Average gradient: 6.99%
Max gradient: 18.71%
Start: 237 m
Summit: 747 m
Net gain: 510 m
Total ascent: 496 m
Category: 2