Passo della Puria

Overview

Passo della Puria is a genuine hors catégorie (HC) climb, and the numbers explain why. Over just 6.8 km it lifts you from 586 m to 1360 m — a net gain of 774 m — at a merciless average gradient of 11.42%. That average alone would be enough to earn respect, but the climb hides a maximum pitch of 36.28%, a wall steep enough to stop many riders in their tracks. With 773 m of total ascent packed into so little distance, there is no easing in and no long false-flat to hide on. This is a short, savage effort where the road simply points up and stays there.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Puria is density. Cover 6.8 km, gain 774 m, and you have a climb that averages well into double digits from bottom to top. Because the average sits at 11.42%, there is very little kilometre that dips into "recovery" territory — the moment one ramp relents, the next begins. The 36.28% maximum tells you the road has at least one section that spikes more than three times the average, a pitch where gravity feels like a physical wall against the front wheel. Expect the gradient to oscillate between hard and brutal rather than between easy and hard. On a climb this steep, even the "gentle" stretches are anything but, and the difference between the 11.42% average and the 36.28% peak is where the suffering lives.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is really about damage control. The single biggest mistake is chasing the average gradient with the same effort on the steepest ramps — a 36.28% pitch will pin your power well above threshold no matter how disciplined you are. Aim to hold a steady effort at or just below your FTP on the more "normal" 11.42% sections, then accept that the wall segments will send you into the red. Because the whole climb is only 6.8 km, you can spend more of it near your ceiling than you could on a long alpine pass — but going too deep early still means grinding to a near-halt on the 36.28% ramp. If you are unsure of your threshold, run your recent numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the effort.

Gearing

Do not underestimate this one. A 34×32 bottom gear, comfortable on most category 1 and 2 climbs, will feel painfully tall against sustained 11.42% pitches and impossible on the 36.28% maximum. For most riders, a 34×34 is the sensible floor here, and anyone who spins rather than grinds should consider going even lower. The goal is to keep your cadence high enough that your knees and your heart rate survive 774 m of climbing in 6.8 km. If your bike only offers a 34×32, ride within yourself early — but if you can fit a 34×34 or a wide-range cassette before tackling Puria, do it.

Summary

Passo della Puria is one of those rare climbs where the profile alone commands respect: short enough to feel finite, steep enough to hurt from the first pedal stroke. Gear low, pace conservatively, and treat every ramp toward the 36.28% maximum as its own small battle.

Length: 6.8 km
Average gradient: 11.42%
Max gradient: 36.28%
Start: 586 m
Summit: 1360 m
Net gain: 774 m
Total ascent: 773 m
Category: HC