Passo del Chiodo

Overview

Passo del Chiodo is a Category 1 climb that asks a serious question of your legs and lungs. From a start elevation of 75 m, the road grinds upward across 11.5 km to a summit of 961 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 886 m and a total ascent of 874 m. The average gradient of 7.69% is not a number that lets you settle in and coast — it is a sustained, all-business slope that keeps the pressure on from the first pedal stroke to the last. With a maximum pitch of 16.13%, there are moments here that will demand everything you have.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Passo del Chiodo is its consistency. Because the total ascent of 874 m is close to the net gain of 886 m, there is almost no respite — the road climbs and keeps climbing, with virtually no false flats or descents to recover on. An average of 7.69% over 11.5 km means the climb rarely dips into "easy" territory. The real sting comes when the gradient spikes toward its 16.13% maximum. These ramps more than double the average, and they tend to arrive when you are already deep in the effort. Reading the road ahead and metering your effort into these steep sections is the difference between a controlled climb and a blow-up.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this sustained, pacing is everything. The average of 7.69% over 886 m of vertical means your effort will be measured in tens of minutes, not seconds, so ride to a power target you can hold to the top rather than chasing the early slopes. A sensible ceiling is a percentage of your FTP that leaves headroom for the 16.13% ramps — hitting those pitches already redlined is a recipe for cracking. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a plan. Aim to arrive at each steep section with something in reserve, then let the gradient do the work of raising your effort rather than surging into it.

Gearing

Given 11.5 km at 7.69% with 16.13% ramps, gear low and gear generously. A compact crankset paired with a wide-range cassette is the right foundation here. A 34×32 will get many fit riders up the average slope at a workable cadence, but the 16.13% pitches are where it can feel marginal. If you have any doubt, fit a 34×34 — the extra sprocket keeps your cadence higher and your torque lower on the steepest ramps, which pays dividends over an 886 m ascent. Spinning a lower gear costs nothing on the shallower sections and saves your legs where it counts.

Summary

Passo del Chiodo is a demanding, honest Category 1 climb: long, steep, and unrelenting from bottom to top. Pace it to your threshold, gear low for the ramps, and respect the sustained 7.69% average.

Length: 11.5 km
Average gradient: 7.69%
Max gradient: 16.13%
Start: 75 m
Summit: 961 m
Net gain: 886 m
Total ascent: 874 m
Category: 1