Passo dei Pozzoni

Overview

Passo dei Pozzoni is a category 1 climb that asks a genuine question of your legs and your patience. Over 13.9 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 510 m to a summit at 1422 m, a net elevation gain of 912 m. The average gradient reads 6.56%, which sounds civil enough on paper, but the max gradient of 20.47% tells you the real story: this is a climb of uneven temperament, where a steady headline number hides sharp spikes that can shred a group in seconds. At 13.9 km it is long enough to demand pacing discipline and steep enough that guessing your effort early will cost you dearly near the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 6.56% average and the 20.47% maximum is the defining feature here. A climb that gained its 912 m at a perfectly even grade would be a metronomic slog, but Pozzoni instead stacks its difficulty unevenly. Expect stretches that sit near or below the average, offering fragile recovery, punctuated by ramps that surge toward that punishing 20.47% wall. The net gain of 912 m over 13.9 km confirms the sustained nature of the effort, while the total ascent of 873 m — slightly less than the net figure — hints at the rolling, non-monotonic profile beneath your wheels. Read the road ahead: the steep pitches are where the climb is won or lost.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, the temptation is to chase the early ramps and pay for it later. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power rather than the gradient in front of you. A good rule is to hold just under your FTP on the flatter sections so you have headroom to absorb the surges toward 20.47% without redlining. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so your target watts are grounded in reality, not optimism. Across 13.9 km and 912 m of net gain, a rider who paces the first two-thirds conservatively will almost always beat the one who blew apart on the first steep ramp.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. The 20.47% max gradient will punish a cassette that stops short, and grinding a big gear at low cadence for 13.9 km wrecks the legs long before the 1422 m summit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 is workable for strong climbers who can turn a decent cadence on the average 6.56% pitches, but for most riders — and for anyone tackling this at the end of a long day — a 34×34 gives you the extra breathing room to spin over the steepest ramps rather than muscle them.

Summary

Passo dei Pozzoni is a category 1 test that rewards patience and honest pacing. Its 6.56% average is deceptive; the 20.47% spikes are what you'll remember. Gear low, pace to your threshold, and respect the full 13.9 km to the top.

Length: 13.9 km
Average gradient: 6.56%
Max gradient: 20.47%
Start: 510 m
Summit: 1422 m
Net gain: 912 m
Total ascent: 873 m
Category: 1