Passo del Cerreto

Overview

Passo del Cerreto is a long, honest category-1 climb that rewards patience over bravado. From a base at 193 m, the road grinds upward for 15.9 km before topping out at 1254 m, delivering a net gain of 1061 m and a total ascent of 1053 m. The average gradient of 6.66% sounds civil enough on paper, but averages flatter the truth here: a maximum pitch of 26.45% lurks somewhere in the middle, waiting to snap the legs of anyone who spent too freely early. This is a climb of endurance first and punch second — a place to settle into a rhythm and let the metronome do the work.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape of Cerreto is defined by the gap between its average and its extremes. Across 15.9 km the mean slope is 6.66%, but a spike touching 26.45% means the ramps are anything but uniform. Expect stretches that sit comfortably below the average, giving your legs brief recovery, offset by sharper pitches that drag the mean upward. That single-figure difference between total ascent (1053 m) and net gain (1061 m) tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly in one direction — there is little in the way of false descent to break your effort. Treat every gentle section as a chance to recover, because the steep pinches will claw that time back.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats ambition. Target an effort just under your FTP for the sustained middle section, then accept that the 26.45% wall will spike you well above threshold no matter how smoothly you ride — the goal is to keep those surges short and return to your rhythm quickly. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle 1061 m of climbing, so you pace by data rather than feel. Over 15.9 km, going two beats too hard in the first third will cost you dearly by the summit.

Gearing

Bring low gears and use them without shame. For most riders a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible choice: a 34×32 will handle the sustained 6.66% grind, but the 26.45% maximum makes a case for going lower still. If your derailleur allows it, a 34×34 gives you the spinning cadence needed to survive the steepest pinch without cross-torquing your knees or stalling. Over 15.9 km and 1061 m of gain, a gear you can turn smoothly for an hour beats a hero ratio you fight from the base.

Summary

Passo del Cerreto is a climb that respects the well-paced and punishes the impatient. Save something for the steep middle, gear low, and let the length do the damage to everyone who went out too hard.

Length: 15.9 km
Average gradient: 6.66%
Max gradient: 26.45%
Start: 193 m
Summit: 1254 m
Net gain: 1061 m
Total ascent: 1053 m
Category: 1