Passo del Cap

Overview

Passo del Cap is an hors catégorie monster, the kind of climb that earns its top-tier rating through sheer, unbroken workload. Over 22.2 km it averages 7.71%, hauling you from a start elevation of just 68 m all the way to a 1782 m summit. That is 1714 m of net elevation gain, and because the profile rolls and dips along the way, the total ascent actually reaches 1808 m — nearly 100 m of extra climbing hidden in the false flats and brief respites.

There is no easing into a climb like this. An average of 7.71% held across more than 22 km is punishing arithmetic, and the HC category is fully deserved. This is a summit to be respected, planned for, and paced with discipline.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to internalise is 7.71%. Sustained across 22.2 km, that average tells you the climb never truly relents. But the gap between the 1714 m net gain and the 1808 m total ascent is where the real character lives: roughly 94 m of that ascent comes from re-climbing after small descents or flatter shelves.

In practice that means the steepest stretches must exceed 7.71% to compensate for every metre you give back. Expect ramps that bite well above the average, punctuated by short sections where the road relaxes just enough to let your heart rate settle before the next pitch. Treat those flatter shelves as recovery, not as an invitation to attack — the summit at 1782 m is a long way up, and the climb will happily reclaim any energy spent too early.

Pacing Notes

The single most important discipline on a 22.2 km HC climb is starting below your ceiling. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit comfortably under threshold for the opening kilometres, because 1714 m of gain leaves no room to recover from an early blow-up.

If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then target a steady percentage of that figure for the bulk of the climb. On a 7.71% average, cadence discipline matters as much as power: keep the legs turning through the steep ramps and use the flatter shelves — the ones that separate the 1808 m total ascent from the 1714 m net gain — to spin out and reset rather than to surge.

Gearing

At 7.71% for 22.2 km, gearing is not a luxury — it is survival. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the sensible baseline, and the question is simply how large a cassette you pair with it.

A 34×32 is the minimum I would recommend for most riders tackling an HC climb of this length. It gives you enough range to hold a sustainable cadence on the average pitches. But given that the net gain is 1714 m and the road climbs a total of 1808 m, many riders will be far happier with a 34×34. That extra sprocket buys precious rpm on the ramps that exceed 7.71%, keeping torque manageable and protecting your legs for the full 1782 m ascent.

Summary

Passo del Cap is a genuine HC test: long, steep, and unrelenting from 68 m to 1782 m. Pace it below threshold, gear it generously, and respect the full 1808 m of climbing hidden in the profile.

Length: 22.2 km
Average gradient: 7.71%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 68 m
Summit: 1782 m
Net gain: 1714 m
Total ascent: 1808 m
Category: HC