Passo del Biscia

Overview

Passo del Biscia is a Category 1 climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke. Over 11.6 km it gains 817 m net, lifting you from a valley floor at 70 m to a summit at 887 m. The headline number is an average gradient of 7.07%, but averages flatter this climb — a spike of 22.98% lurks somewhere in the middle, the kind of ramp that turns a steady rhythm into a survival grind. With a total ascent of 788 m recorded across its rollers and false flats, this is a sustained effort that rewards patience over aggression.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape of Passo del Biscia is what makes it a Category 1 rather than a milder rating. A 7.07% average across 11.6 km is already firm, but the gradient does not hold that number smoothly. The gap between the 7.07% mean and the 22.98% maximum tells you the road pitches sharply in places — nearly 16 percentage points steeper than average at its cruelest point. Expect the profile to breathe: sections that let you recover, punctuated by walls that force you out of the saddle. Because the net gain of 817 m slightly exceeds the total ascent of 788 m figure, the climb trends relentlessly upward with only minor respite, giving you few genuine flat stretches to soft-pedal.

Pacing Notes

Pace Passo del Biscia to its average, not its maximum. At 7.07% over 11.6 km, a rider holding a steady tempo just below threshold will make the most efficient use of energy. The trap is the 22.98% ramp: attacking it burns matches you cannot recover across 817 m of climbing. Instead, anchor your effort to your FTP and treat the steepest pitch as a short, deliberate over-effort — spin what you can, absorb the spike, and settle back to rhythm once it eases. If you are unsure of your sustainable power, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so you climb to a target rather than to feel. On a climb this long, going out 10 watts too hard in the opening kilometres compounds badly by the summit.

Gearing

Gearing is where Passo del Biscia separates the comfortable from the suffering. With a 7.07% average and a 22.98% maximum, you want a wide-range cassette that lets you keep cadence up on the walls. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 setup is the sensible minimum for most riders, giving you a low enough ratio to survive the steepest ramp without grinding to a standstill. If you climb at a lower cadence, weigh more, or simply want insurance on that 22.98% pitch, step up to a 34×34. The extra teeth cost you nothing on the false flats and buy you a lifeline where the gradient bites hardest.

Summary

Passo del Biscia is a proper Category 1 test: long, steep, and uneven enough that respect for the numbers pays dividends. Pace to the average, gear for the maximum, and let the summit come to you.

Length: 11.6 km
Average gradient: 7.07%
Max gradient: 22.98%
Start: 70 m
Summit: 887 m
Net gain: 817 m
Total ascent: 788 m
Category: 1