Passo della Consuma

Overview

Passo della Consuma is a category 1 climb that covers 14.4 km and lifts you from a start elevation of 83 m to a summit at 1046 m. That works out to 963 m of net elevation gain, with 952 m of total ascent recorded along the way. The average gradient of 6.68% marks this as a genuinely sustained effort rather than a short, sharp test, and the max gradient of 11.4% guarantees at least one section where you will feel the road bite.

The gap between net gain (963 m) and total ascent (952 m) is small, which tells you the climb is almost relentlessly upward with little in the way of descending relief. Once you commit, you stay committed.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 6.68% averaged across 14.4 km, Consuma sits in the sweet spot where a climb is long enough to punish over-eagerness but consistent enough to reward a rhythm. The difference between the 6.68% average and the 11.4% maximum is 4.72 percentage points, so the steepest ramp is meaningfully harder than the norm but never veers into wall territory.

Expect the road to hover around its average for long stretches, with the pitch stiffening toward that 11.4% figure where the gradient peaks. Because total ascent (952 m) tracks so closely to net gain (963 m), there are essentially no flat recovery breaks to reset your legs — the climbing is continuous from the 83 m base to the 1046 m top.

Pacing Notes

The right way to approach a 14.4 km climb at 6.68% is to anchor your effort to sustainable power rather than feel. Ride the bulk of the climb just under your FTP, holding a steady tempo that you could theoretically maintain for the full duration, then allow your power to rise on the steeper pitches near the 11.4% max.

If you do not know your threshold yet, spend a few minutes with the FTP estimator before you plan the ascent. Knowing that number turns a 963 m climb from a guessing game into a math problem: pick a wattage you can hold for the time the 14.4 km will take, and defend it. Go out too hard in the first third and the back half — where the gradient is happy to sit at or above 6.68% — will make you pay.

Gearing

For a climb of this length and steepness, gearing generosity is your friend. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the sensible baseline. Pair it with a 34×32 low gear and most riders will spin comfortably through the sustained 6.68% sections while still having something in reserve for the 11.4% max.

If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance for the steepest ramp, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket lets you keep the pedals turning when the gradient bites near the top, protecting your legs across all 14.4 km rather than forcing you to grind. On a 963 m ascent, a spare gear is never wasted.

Summary

Passo della Consuma is a sustained, honest category 1 climb: 14.4 km of near-continuous ascent at a 6.68% average, capped by an 11.4% max. With 963 m of net gain and 952 m of total ascent, it rewards patient pacing and forgiving gearing.

Length: 14.4 km
Average gradient: 6.68%
Max gradient: 11.4%
Start: 83 m
Summit: 1046 m
Net gain: 963 m
Total ascent: 952 m
Category: 1