Passo del Ginestro

Overview

Passo del Ginestro is a Category 2 climb in Italy. It runs 8.6 km from a start elevation of 117 m to a summit at 674 m, for a net elevation gain of 557 m. On paper that reads as a steady mid-length effort, and the 6.44 percent average gradient reinforces that impression.

The paper number lies. Total ascent over the climb is 820 m, against the 557 m net gain — a gap of 263 m. That extra 263 m is climbing you do and then give back, meaning the road undulates rather than rising cleanly. You pay for descents and false flats by re-climbing them, so your legs see far more vertical than the net figure suggests. Budget your effort against 820 m, not 557 m.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.44 percent average is a blend, not a constant. With a maximum gradient of 26.43 percent recorded on the profile, the road hides ramps roughly four times steeper than the average — and those spikes are offset by flatter and descending sections that drag the mean down.

Expect the profile to break down roughly like this:

• Flatter or recovery stretches where the gradient eases well below average, letting you spin and reset.
• Repeated short climbs that account for the 263 m of re-climbing beyond the net gain.
• A single savage ramp near the 26 percent maximum, where cadence collapses and raw torque decides everything.

Pacing Notes

On a clean, even climb you would hold steady power start to finish. Ginestro is not that climb. Its undulation means even-effort and even-speed pacing pull in opposite directions: hold constant speed and you will spike far over your sustainable power output on every ramp; hold constant power and your speed will swing wildly.

Anchor to power, not speed. Let your pace sag on the steep pitches and stay disciplined on the flatter sections rather than hammering to "make up time." Cap your ceiling on the 26 percent ramp so it does not blow your effort for the kilometres that follow. If you do not know your threshold, set it first with the FTP estimator, then ride to that number.

Gearing

The 26.43 percent maximum gradient governs your setup, not the 6.44 percent average. On a ramp that steep, low gears are non-negotiable. Run a compact 34-tooth chainring, or a sub-compact if you have one, paired with a wide-range cassette — 34×32 or 34×34 — so you keep a turnable cadence when the road stands up. Confirm your actual chainring and cassette before the ride; the steepest pitch is the wrong place to discover you are over-geared.

Summary

• Length: 8.6 km
• Average gradient: 6.44 percent
• Maximum gradient: 26.43 percent
• Net elevation gain: 557 m
• Total ascent: 820 m
• Category: 2

Ginestro rewards riders who respect the gap between its net gain and its total ascent. Pace to power, gear for the steepest ramp, and the 8.6 km will go the way you planned.