Passo della Rutta

Overview

Passo della Rutta is a category 1 climb that rewards patience and a steady head. Over 10.4 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 226 m to a summit of 872 m, a net elevation gain of 646 m. The average gradient of 6.24% puts it firmly in the sustained-effort bracket: steep enough to hurt, shallow enough that you can never blame the slope for stopping. With a maximum pitch of 9.71%, there is a genuine sting here, but nothing that forces you off the bike if you have paced the earlier kilometres well.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 6.24% average, and for much of the climb the road hovers near that value. What separates a good ride from a bad one is how you read the gap between average and maximum. That 9.71% peak is more than three points above the mean, so expect the road to pulse: stretches that sit comfortably below 6.24% traded against ramps that spike toward the max. Because the net gain of 646 m is close to the total ascent of 616 m, this is an honest climb — there is little in the way of descending false flat to give your legs a break, so the elevation you earn largely stays earned. Treat every easier section as recovery you will need to spend on the steep ramps that follow.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride 10.4 km at 6.24% is by effort, not by feel. Anchor your pacing to your FTP and hold a controlled tempo through the shallower kilometres so you have headroom when the gradient bites toward 9.71%. A common mistake on a climb of this length is going out hard on the first ramp and paying interest for the remaining distance. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then aim to sit just under threshold on the sustained sections and allow short surges over it on the steepest pitches. With 646 m of climbing ahead, discipline in the opening kilometres is what buys you a strong finish at the 872 m summit.

Gearing

For a 6.24% average topping out at 9.71%, most riders want a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 is the sensible baseline: it keeps your cadence up through the tempo sections and gives you something to lean on when the road kicks. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance against the 9.71% ramps late in the climb when fatigue has set in, step up to a 34×34. The lighter gear costs you nothing on the flatter pitches and preserves your legs across the full 10.4 km, which matters more than raw speed on a category 1 effort.

Summary

Passo della Rutta is a fair, sustained category 1 climb — 10.4 km of honest gradient with just enough bite to keep you honest. Pace it by effort, gear it generously, and the 872 m summit will feel like a reward rather than a rescue.

Length: 10.4 km
Average gradient: 6.24%
Max gradient: 9.71%
Start: 226 m
Summit: 872 m
Net gain: 646 m
Total ascent: 616 m
Category: 1