Passo della Limina

Overview

Passo della Limina is a 13.8 km category 2 climb that lifts you from a valley floor at 94 m to a summit of 816 m. That is 722 m of net elevation gain, with the road's rolling character adding a little more to a total ascent of 707 m of pure uphill work. At an average gradient of 5.25%, it sits in the sweet spot where a strong rider can hold rhythm, yet the 14.14% maximum ramp guarantees at least one moment where rhythm goes out the window. It is long enough to matter and steep enough in places to punish a bad pacing decision.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not let the 5.25% average lull you. Averages flatten the story, and the gap between that number and the 14.14% max tells you the road is uneven. Expect stretches that sit comfortably below the average, giving your legs a chance to recover, offset by ramps that spike well into double digits. Across 13.8 km, the climbing is spread out rather than front-loaded, but the steepest pitches are where the climb defines itself. Ride the shallow sections as active recovery and treat the max-gradient ramp as the crux: the single place where staying seated and smooth versus grinding to a crawl decides your time.

Pacing Notes

For a climb this length, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just under threshold on the average-gradient sections, banking freshness for the steep pinches rather than burning matches early. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. The 722 m of gain means this is a sustained effort measured in tens of minutes, not a short punch, so the goal is an even power output: let your effort surge only on the 14.14% ramp, then settle back the instant the road eases. Start too hard on the lower slopes and the final kilometers to 816 m will feel far longer than they are.

Gearing

With an average of 5.25% but ramps reaching 14.14%, gearing is where you buy yourself an easier day. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders over the climb, keeping cadence acceptable through the steep sections. But if you weigh toward comfort, ride at a lower power, or simply want to spin the 14.14% pitch rather than muscle it, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket is cheap insurance against the max-gradient ramp forcing you into a grinding, cadence-killing slog over the back half of the 13.8 km.

Summary

Passo della Limina rewards patience. Respect the length, pace to your threshold, gear for the steep bits, and the 722 m of climbing becomes a satisfying tempo effort rather than a survival exercise. Save something for the ramps and the summit at 816 m comes to you.

Length: 13.8 km
Average gradient: 5.25%
Max gradient: 14.14%
Start: 94 m
Summit: 816 m
Net gain: 722 m
Total ascent: 707 m
Category: 2