Passo del Bozale

Overview

Passo del Bozale is a category 1 climb that asks for patience before it asks for power. Over 17.2 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 122 m to a summit at 1048 m, a net gain of 926 m. The average gradient reads a moderate 5.38%, but that figure hides the real character of the road: with a total ascent of 892 m spread across false flats, kicks, and one savage pitch of 14.54%, the mean tells only part of the story. This is a long climb rather than a brutally steep one, and that length is exactly what makes it dangerous to riders who go out too hard.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 5.38% average and the 14.54% maximum is where the climb lives. At 17.2 km, an average of 5.38% means long stretches sit comfortably below that number, which lulls you into carrying more speed than the summit will let you keep. Those easier kilometres are balanced by ramps that spike toward the 14.54% max, and the difference between total ascent (892 m) and net gain (926 m) tells you the profile is not perfectly monotonic in feel even as it trends relentlessly upward. Expect the road to breathe: shallow drags where you can settle into rhythm, punctuated by steeper walls that force you out of the saddle. The climb rewards riders who read the road ahead rather than reacting to each pitch.

Pacing Notes

Anchor your effort to your sustainable power, not to how you feel in the first kilometre. Because Bozale runs 17.2 km, this is a threshold-style effort — hold a percentage of your FTP that you know you can defend for well over half an hour. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you plan the day. Bank nothing on the shallow sections; instead, spin them efficiently and save your matches for the ramps toward the 14.54% max, where over-gearing turns a manageable climb into a slow-motion grind. Aim to crest at 1048 m with something left, not empty.

Gearing

For a climb this long with pitches to 14.54%, gear for the walls, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is the sensible baseline for most riders and keeps your cadence alive on the steeper ramps. If you weigh more, ride at a lower threshold, or simply prefer to spin, step up to a 34×34 — the extra range costs nothing on the shallow kilometres and buys real relief across the 926 m of climbing. Under-gearing here is the classic mistake: choose the easier ratio and let cadence, not force, carry you to the top.

Summary

Passo del Bozale is a rhythm climber's category 1: long enough to punish poor pacing, varied enough to reward smart gear choices, and topped with a summit worth the 926 m of vertical beneath it. Respect the length, gear for the 14.54% pitches, and hold your threshold from bottom to top.

Length: 17.2 km
Average gradient: 5.38%
Max gradient: 14.54%
Start: 122 m
Summit: 1048 m
Net gain: 926 m
Total ascent: 892 m
Category: 1