Passo del Diavolo

Overview

Passo del Diavolo is a 20 km category 2 climb that lifts you from 211 m at its base to a 966 m summit. On paper the 3.77% average gradient reads as gentle — the kind of number that lulls you into thinking you can ride it in the big ring. Do not be fooled. That low average is the product of a long climb whose 755 m of net gain is smeared unevenly across the full 20 km, and a spike of 26.15% max gradient proves the road has real teeth. The total ascent of 746 m sits just below the net gain, which tells you this is a fundamentally uphill road with only minor respites rather than a rolling profile.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The tension of this climb lives in the gap between its 3.77% average and its 26.15% maximum. Averages hide as much as they reveal. To gain 755 m over 20 km at a steady 3.77% would be a metronomic drag, but the presence of a 26.15% ramp means whole kilometres must sit well below average to balance the maths. Expect stretches of near-false-flat where you can breathe and roll, punctuated by short, brutal pitches that force you out of the saddle. The climb is therefore a rhythm-breaker: you never settle into one gear for long. Mentally, treat it as a long approach guarding a handful of severe kicks rather than a single sustained wall.

Pacing Notes

Because the effort is so lumpy, pace by feel and power rather than by the average. Anchor your ride around your FTP: on the shallow sections, sit comfortably below threshold and let the low gradient carry you, then accept that the 26.15% pitches will spike you well over threshold for short bursts. Do not chase a constant speed — hold a constant, sustainable effort and let the road dictate the rest. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, so you know exactly how hard the easy kilometres should feel and how much you can afford to bury yourself on the steep ramps. Over 20 km, the riders who blow up are the ones who treat the flat sections as recovery too eagerly and then meet the 26.15% wall with nothing left.

Gearing

The average may be 3.77%, but you gear for the maximum, not the mean. A 26.15% pitch will shred any compromise setup, so bring plenty of range. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is the sensible floor for most fit riders here, giving you a bailout on the steepest kick. If you climb at lower cadence, run out of legs late, or simply value spinning over grinding, size up to 34×34 — the extra sprocket is cheap insurance against being forced to a standstill on the 26.15% ramp near the top of a 755 m ascent.

Summary

Passo del Diavolo is a deceptive category 2 climb: a forgiving 3.77% average wrapped around a vicious 26.15% sting. Respect the shape, gear low, and pace off the road rather than the number.

Length: 20 km
Average gradient: 3.77%
Max gradient: 26.15%
Start: 211 m
Summit: 966 m
Net gain: 755 m
Total ascent: 746 m
Category: 2