Passo del Branchetto

Overview

Passo del Branchetto is a long, category 1 haul that trades violence for duration. Over 26.6 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 148 m to a summit of 1581 m — a net gain of 1433 m with 1424 m of total ascent. The average gradient sits at 5.38%, which reads as moderate until you remember it holds for well over an hour of climbing. This is a diesel effort, not a firework. The road rarely bites hard, but it almost never lets you coast, and the sheer length is what defines the challenge.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is 5.38% average, and because net gain (1433 m) and total ascent (1424 m) are so close, there is very little downhill or false-flat relief hidden in the profile — nearly every metre gained stays gained. That makes the climb honest and unbroken: you are pointed uphill from the base to the top.

The steepest recorded pitch is 10.66%, roughly double the average. On a 26.6 km climb, a ramp that touches 10.66% will feel severe simply because it lands amid so much accumulated fatigue. Expect the gradient to breathe around the 5.38% mean — softer stretches where you can find rhythm, then sharper kicks toward that 10.66% ceiling that force you out of the saddle briefly before the road settles again.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is the whole game. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to spend the ascent just below threshold — the 5.38% average is gentle enough that going too hard early costs you far more than it gives back over 26.6 km. If you are not sure of your threshold number, run the FTP estimator first and set a target power you can hold for the full duration.

Treat the steeper ramps toward 10.66% as brief overshoots, not new efforts: let power rise for the pitch, then bring it straight back to your climbing number. With 1433 m of net gain to accumulate, consistency beats heroics every time.

Gearing

Given the length and the 10.66% max, err generous on gearing. A compact 34-tooth inner paired with a 34×32 low is the sensible baseline for most riders here — it gives you a spinnable gear when the road tilts up late and your legs are 26.6 km deep. If you climb at a lower cadence, favour torque over speed, or simply want insurance against the 10.66% ramps arriving on tired legs, step up to 34×34. The extra range costs nothing on the shallower 5.38% sections and buys real comfort on the steep ones. On a climb defined by duration rather than a single wall, the low gear that keeps you spinning is worth more than the top gear you will barely touch.

Summary

Passo del Branchetto is a category 1 climb that rewards patience: 26.6 km of steady 5.38% climbing, spiking to 10.66%, that lifts you 1433 m from valley to summit. Pace it to your threshold, gear generously, and let the length do the work of humbling you.

Length — 26.6 km
Average gradient — 5.38%
Max gradient — 10.66%
Start — 148 m
Summit — 1581 m
Net gain — 1433 m
Total ascent — 1424 m
Category — 1