Passo del Porco

Overview

Passo del Porco is an hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest classification on the road-cycling scale. It runs for 30.3 km, starting at 525 m and topping out at 2344 m — a net elevation gain of 1819 m over the ascent. The average gradient sits at 6%, but that number understates the challenge: with a maximum pitch of 16.3% and a length that pushes past the half-hour mark for even strong riders, this is an endurance test as much as a strength one. Total ascent across the road is 1795 m, meaning the route climbs almost continuously with only brief respites.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is duration. At 30.3 km, Passo del Porco is long enough that pacing errors compound into serious trouble long before the summit. A 6% average across that distance is deceptively steady on paper, but the 16.3% maximum tells you the road is not uniform — there are ramps that spike well above the mean, forcing surges out of the saddle. Because net gain (1819 m) is greater than total ascent (1795 m) only in framing, the practical takeaway is simple: almost every kilometre goes up. Expect the hardest pitches to arrive when your legs are already deep into the effort, so bank patience early rather than heroics.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, ride to your sustainable power, not your ego. Your FTP is the single most useful anchor: hold a percentage of it you can maintain for the full 30.3 km, and let the steep ramps push you briefly over threshold without blowing up. If you do not know your number yet, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace. The 6% average is where you'll spend most of your time; treat the 16.3% sections as short over-efforts and settle back onto your target power the moment the road eases. With 1819 m to gain, consistency beats bravado every time.

Gearing

Gear for the long haul and the steep spikes, not the average. For most riders tackling an HC climb topping 16.3%, a compact crankset paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get many trained riders up the steady 6% sections comfortably, but the 16.3% ramps late in a 30.3 km effort are where a 34×34 earns its keep — that extra sprocket lets you keep cadence up and legs turning when fatigue has set in. If you can fit it, err toward the easier ratio; you will never regret spare gears on a climb this long.

Summary

Passo del Porco is a true HC test: long, high, and unrelenting. Respect the 30.3 km distance, pace off your FTP, gear low, and the 2344 m summit is within reach.

Length: 30.3 km
Average gradient: 6%
Max gradient: 16.3%
Start: 525 m
Summit: 2344 m
Net gain: 1819 m
Total ascent: 1795 m
Category: HC