Passo d’Eira

Overview

Passo d’Eira is a category 1 ascent that asks for patience more than fireworks. Over 14.2 km it climbs at an average of 6.59%, lifting you from a start elevation of 1350 m to a summit at 2288 m. That is a net elevation gain of 938 m across the climb, with a total ascent of 914 m once the small dips and flatter shelves are accounted for. The gap between those two figures tells you something useful: this is not a pure staircase but a climb with a handful of brief reprieves, roughly 24 m of them, scattered through the effort.

Starting already at altitude, the air is thinner than the numbers alone suggest, and the sustained nature of the gradient means there is nowhere to truly recover. This is a climb you settle into, not one you attack.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining trait of Passo d’Eira is consistency. With an average of 6.59% and a maximum of 8.75%, the spread between typical and hardest is modest — only 2.16 percentage points. There are no wall-like ramps waiting to break you, but equally there is no long descent to coast and reset.

Expect the road to hover around its average for long stretches, stiffening toward the 8.75% pitches on the steeper shoulders. Because total ascent (914 m) sits just below net gain (938 m), the profile trends upward almost the entire way, with only the faintest easing before the top. Plan to hold a steady rhythm rather than surge and fade.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this even, pacing is everything. The smartest approach is to ride close to your threshold and hold it, since the lack of steep spikes rewards a metered effort over heroics. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: riding just below it on the shallower sections and letting the 8.75% ramps nudge you briefly above will keep your average power efficient across the full 14.2 km.

If you are unsure of your current number, run the FTP estimator before you plan. At 6.59% average and starting at 1350 m, altitude will quietly tax you — err conservative on the lower slopes so you still have something at 2288 m.

Gearing

For 14.2 km at 6.59% finishing above 2000 m, most riders will want a wide, forgiving cassette. A compact 34-tooth inner ring paired with a 34×32 low is a sensible baseline for the sustained middle gradients, giving you a spinnable gear for the long haul.

If you climb at lower cadence, tend to fade at altitude, or simply want insurance for the 8.75% pitches with tired legs, step up to 34×34. The extra range costs nothing on a climb with no meaningful flat, and on 938 m of net gain that margin can be the difference between rhythm and grinding.

Summary

Passo d’Eira is a fair, honest category 1 climb: long, steady, and thin-aired, rewarding measured pacing over aggression. Bring a compact gear, respect the altitude, and settle into the 6.59% for the duration.

Length: 14.2 km
Average gradient: 6.59%
Max gradient: 8.75%
Start: 1350 m
Summit: 2288 m
Net gain: 938 m
Total ascent: 914 m
Category: 1