Passo del Brattello

Overview

Passo del Brattello is a long, patient climb rather than a brutal one. Over 17.6 km it gains 846 m of net elevation, starting at 187 m and topping out at 1033 m. That works out to an average gradient of 4.8%, which puts it firmly in category 1 territory — one rung below the hardest HC classification, but demanding enough that pacing matters far more than raw power.

The headline numbers tell a friendly story: 4.8% is a gradient most trained riders can sit on comfortably. But the total ascent of 827 m against a net gain of 846 m tells you the road is not perfectly monotonic — there is a whisper of relief tucked in there, and one pitch that spikes to 17.39%. That single ramp is what turns a steady tempo effort into a climb you have to respect.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an average of 4.8% spread across 17.6 km, the Brattello rewards riders who read the road. The gap between the net gain of 846 m and the total ascent of 827 m is small, which means there is very little descending to break your rhythm — you climb, and you keep climbing.

The defining feature is the disparity between that gentle 4.8% average and the 17.39% maximum. A ramp more than three times steeper than the average cannot hide inside the numbers: it means long, sustainable sections are interrupted by at least one sharp kick where the gradient more than triples. Everything else is soft enough that you can recover; that one pitch is where you either shift down in time or blow your legs open.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The smart approach is to ride the 4.8% sections just below your FTP, banking energy for the 17.39% ramp rather than burning matches early. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through our FTP estimator before you plan the effort.

With 17.6 km ahead and 846 m to gain, treat the first two-thirds as a metronome. Hold a steady, repeatable effort, keep your cadence smooth on the easy grades, and consciously leave a reserve for the steep pitch. When the road hits 17.39%, your threshold discipline earlier is exactly what lets you absorb it without cracking. Above the ramp, ease back to tempo and let the road carry you toward 1033 m.

Gearing

The 4.8% average makes this manageable on standard gearing, but the 17.39% maximum is the deciding factor. For most riders, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is the sensible baseline — it keeps your cadence honest on the steep ramp without over-gearing the long, gentle middle.

If you tire on sustained climbs, or you want to spin rather than grind through that 17.39% pitch, size up to a 34×34. Over 17.6 km of climbing, the extra range costs you nothing on the flatter grades and saves your legs exactly where the road bites hardest.

Summary

Passo del Brattello is a rhythm climb with a single sharp warning: ride the 4.8% patiently, respect the 17.39% ramp, and let 17.6 km of steady work deliver you to 1033 m.

Length: 17.6 km
Average gradient: 4.8%
Max gradient: 17.39%
Start: 187 m
Summit: 1033 m
Net gain: 846 m
Total ascent: 827 m
Category: 1