Passo della Presolana

Overview

Passo della Presolana is a long, sustained category-1 ascent that stretches 23.2 km from a start elevation of 287 m to a summit at 1300 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 1013 m and a total ascent of 1007 m, so this is a climb where the road almost always tilts upward but rarely flattens or descends. The average gradient of 4.37% sounds gentle on paper, and for long sections it is — but a maximum pitch of 10.02% tells you the difficulty is not evenly spread. Over more than twenty kilometres, the accumulated vertical is what makes Presolana a genuine test of endurance rather than raw power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 4.37% average and a 10.02% maximum, the defining feature of this climb is variation. The gap between the average and the steepest ramp is more than 5.6 percentage points, which means the road oscillates: stretches noticeably shallower than 4.37% are balanced out by pitches climbing toward that 10.02% ceiling. Because the total ascent (1007 m) sits just below the net gain (1013 m), there is essentially no meaningful downhill to recover on — every metre you drop, you pay back almost immediately. Expect to settle into a rhythm on the moderate grades, then repeatedly shift down when the gradient stacks toward double digits before easing again.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The 4.37% average is a number you can hold comfortably below threshold, so treat it as your baseline and save headroom for the ramps toward 10.02%. A good rule is to ride the shallow sections just under your FTP and let your power drift up only briefly on the steepest pitches, rather than surging and blowing up early over 23.2 km. If you are unsure what wattage that corresponds to, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then anchor your pacing to a percentage of that figure. With 1013 m to gain, the riders who finish strongest are the ones who felt almost too easy in the opening kilometres.

Gearing

For a 23.2 km climb with pitches reaching 10.02%, gear for the steepest sections, not the average. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders enough range to spin the 10.02% ramps without grinding, while still leaving usable gears for the long 4.37% stretches. If you climb at a lower cadence, tire late in long efforts, or simply want insurance over the full 1013 m of gain, step up to a 34×34 — the extra sprockets cost you nothing on the shallow sections and keep your legs fresh for the top.

Summary

Passo della Presolana rewards patience: a long, uneven category-1 climb where the modest 4.37% average hides ramps to 10.02% and, crucially, over a thousand metres of relentless accumulated ascent. Pace it low, gear it generously, and let the length do the work of tiring your rivals.

Length: 23.2 km
Average gradient: 4.37%
Max gradient: 10.02%
Start: 287 m
Summit: 1300 m
Net gain: 1013 m
Total ascent: 1007 m
Category: 1