Passo del Righetto

Overview

Passo del Righetto is a long, steady category 2 climb that rewards patience over punch. Over 15.2 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 213 m to a 975 m summit, a net elevation gain of 762 m. The average gradient sits at a manageable 5.02%, but that headline figure hides a maximum pitch of 11.34% — proof that the road does not climb at a single, even rate. With a total ascent of 749 m logged across its length, the Righetto is the kind of climb where good pacing beats raw power every time.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 5.02% average and the 11.34% maximum tells the real story here. A climb that averaged its peak gradient the whole way would be brutal; instead, the Righetto trades stretches of shallow, rolling road against a handful of sharper ramps. Expect the effort to arrive in waves rather than as one relentless wall.

Because the net gain of 762 m is slightly more than the 749 m of total ascent, the profile is almost entirely uphill with very little descending or flat relief mixed in — you climb nearly every one of the 15.2 km. That consistency is a mental gift and a physical trap: without recovery gradients, the steep sections at up to 11.34% land on legs that never fully reset. Read the road ahead, and save something for those pitches.

Pacing Notes

Treat the Righetto as a threshold effort, not a sprint. On a climb this long, riding just under your FTP for the shallow majority — then holding steady when the gradient jumps toward 11.34% — keeps your average speed high without blowing up. The 5.02% average means most of the climb is sustainable if you resist the urge to chase the steep ramps at full gas.

If you are not sure what your sustainable number is, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride. Knowing your ceiling turns 15.2 km of uncertainty into a repeatable, well-managed effort where the only surprise is how much stronger you feel cresting the top at 975 m.

Gearing

For most riders a compact crankset paired with a wide-range cassette is ideal here. A 34×32 lowest gear will get you up the 5.02% average comfortably, but the 11.34% maximum is where that ratio starts to bite — especially deep into the climb after 762 m of accumulated gain. If you like to keep your cadence spinning rather than grinding, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket buys real insurance on the steepest ramps and lets you protect your legs across the full 15.2 km. Choose the 34×34 if you value comfort and consistency over saving a little weight.

Summary

Passo del Righetto is a long, honest category 2 climb: steady enough to enjoy, steep enough in places to demand respect. Pace it at threshold, gear it for the ramps, and the 762 m of climbing rolls by in rhythm.

Length: 15.2 km
Average gradient: 5.02%
Max gradient: 11.34%
Start: 213 m
Summit: 975 m
Net gain: 762 m
Total ascent: 749 m
Category: 2