Passo del Camino

Overview

Passo del Camino is a genuine hors catégorie (HC) climb, and the numbers make no apology for it. Over 25.9 km the road drags you from a start elevation of 69 m all the way to a summit at 2122 m — a net gain of 2053 m and a total ascent of 2016 m once the small dips along the way are counted. The average gradient sits at 7.92%, which for a climb this long is brutal: there is very little flat here to hide the effort. This is a summit to plan for, fuel for, and respect.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 7.92% tells only part of the story. The steepest recorded pitch bites at 15.55% — nearly double the average — which means the climb is not evenly graded. Expect the road to breathe: stretches near the mean interrupted by sharper ramps that spike toward that 15.55% maximum. Because the total ascent (2016 m) is slightly less than the net gain (2053 m), there is a handful of brief descents or false flats sprinkled across the 25.9 km, small resets that let you recover fractionally before the grade rears up again. Read the pitch, not the average, and save something for the ramps.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of this length, pacing is everything. The sustainable way up Passo del Camino is to anchor your effort to your FTP and refuse to chase the steep ramps out of the saddle for too long. At 7.92% average over 25.9 km, even a small overshoot early compounds badly by the time you near 2122 m. Ride the 15.55% sections a touch below threshold, then settle back to a steady rhythm once the grade eases.

If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target — knowing your real ceiling turns a 2053 m gain from a survival exercise into a controlled effort.

Gearing

Gear for the ramps, not the average. With a maximum of 15.55% and 2053 m to grind out, most riders will want a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 is a sensible floor for strong climbers who can hold power on the 15.55% pitches, but for a 25.9 km climb at 7.92% average I'd lean toward a 34×34 for the extra spinning margin. That lowest gear lets you keep cadence up when fatigue arrives high on the mountain, protecting your legs across the long haul to 2122 m rather than forcing grinding, muscle-burning turns near the top.

Summary

Passo del Camino is a long, demanding HC ascent that rewards patience and honest pacing. Anchor your effort to your threshold, gear for the 15.55% ramps, and treat the 25.9 km as one continuous effort rather than a series of sprints. Get it right and the summit at 2122 m is one of the more satisfying payoffs in the sport.

Length: 25.9 km
Average gradient: 7.92%
Max gradient: 15.55%
Start: 69 m
Summit: 2122 m
Net gain: 2053 m
Total ascent: 2016 m
Category: HC