Passo della Calla

Overview

Passo della Calla is a category 1 climb that packs a genuine day's worth of vertical into a single sustained effort. Over 12.6 km the road lifts you from a start elevation of 150 m to a summit at 958 m, a net gain of 808 m. The average gradient of 6.41% tells you most of the story: this is a long, honest climb that rarely lets you settle, but never quite tips into the brutal, wall-like territory of the hardest ascents. That said, the max gradient of 13.72% is more than double the average, so the "steady" label hides some real teeth.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 6.41% average and the 13.72% maximum is the number to respect. If the whole climb sat at its average, you could pick a rhythm and hold it for the full 12.6 km. Instead, the pitch swings well above that mean in places, which means the easier ramps must dip meaningfully below 6.41% to balance the maths. Expect the effort to arrive in waves: stretches near the average where you can breathe, punctuated by steeper kicks that push toward that 13.72% ceiling. The two elevation figures reinforce the shape — a total ascent of 793 m against a net gain of 808 m tells you the road climbs almost the entire way, with very little false-flat or descending to recover on.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this length, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to hold a power that you know you can sustain for the full 12.6 km — the mistake here is spiking your effort on every steep ramp toward 13.72% and paying for it in the final kilometres. Let the steep sections cost you a little speed rather than a lot of matches, and use the shallower pitches below 6.41% to recover without coasting. If you are unsure what number to target, run your figures through the FTP estimator first, then set a ceiling and stay under it until the summit at 958 m is in sight.

Gearing

With 808 m to gain and ramps reaching 13.72%, gearing that lets you spin is worth more than raw strength. For most riders a compact 34-tooth inner paired with a wide cassette is the sweet spot. A 34×32 will handle the sustained 6.41% comfortably and give you a fighting cadence on the steeper kicks. If you climb at a lower cadence, prefer a bigger day out, or simply want insurance for the 13.72% pitches, size up to a 34×34 — the extra range costs you almost nothing on the flatter sections and buys you a lot of comfort when the road stands up.

Summary

Passo della Calla rewards patience: a long, steady category 1 climb with a genuine steep streak, best ridden to a plan rather than to your ego. Set your target, protect it through the ramps, and let 808 m of climbing come to you.

Length: 12.6 km
Average gradient: 6.41%
Max gradient: 13.72%
Start: 150 m
Summit: 958 m
Net gain: 808 m
Total ascent: 793 m
Category: 1