Passo della Torrita

Overview

Passo della Torrita is a compact category 4 climb: 3 km of road that lifts you from a start elevation of 870 m to a summit at 1019 m. That is a net elevation gain of 149 m over a distance short enough to attack, but steady enough to punish a rider who mistimes the effort. The average gradient sits at 4.97%, firmly in the tempo range rather than the wall-and-recover territory of steeper passes.

At category 4, this is the gentlest of the classified tiers (below 1, 2, 3 and well below HC). But do not read that as trivial. A 3 km climb at nearly 5% is exactly the kind of ascent where a strong, sustained effort separates riders, precisely because there is no genuine reprieve to hide in.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency. With an average of 4.97% and a maximum of only 5.46%, the difference between the typical slope and the steepest slope is just 0.49 percentage points. In practical terms, the road you meet at the bottom is very close to the road you meet at the top. There is no cruel ramp lying in wait, and no long false-flat to recover on.

That narrow band between average and max is what makes Torrita a rhythm climb. You settle into one gear, one cadence, one breathing pattern, and hold it. The total ascent of 127 m against a net gain of 149 m tells you the profile is essentially a single, clean upward line rather than a rolling sawtooth.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient barely deviates, the smart approach is to ride to a fixed power target rather than to feel. Pick a percentage of your FTP that you can genuinely sustain for the full 3 km and lock onto it from the first pedal stroke. On a climb this uniform, going out too hard in the first kilometre is the classic error — you will not get a flat section to bail you out later.

If you are not sure what your sustainable number is, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle it. With only 149 m to gain, the effort is over quickly, so treat the whole 3 km as one continuous push held just under your threshold.

Gearing

For most riders a compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette is plenty here. A 34×32 will handle the steepest pitch — the 5.46% maximum is well within its comfort zone — and lets you spin rather than grind. If you prefer to keep your cadence high, favour lighter climbing legs, or simply want more margin, a 34×34 gives you an extra bailout gear without any downside on a slope this moderate.

Neither gear is a compromise on Torrita. The climb never demands a super-low ratio; the choice is simply about how much you value spinning over pushing.

Summary

Passo della Torrita rewards a disciplined, even effort. Set your target, hold your cadence, and ride the whole 3 km as one clean tempo push to the 1019 m summit.

Length: 3 km
Average gradient: 4.97%
Max gradient: 5.46%
Start: 870 m
Summit: 1019 m
Net gain: 149 m
Total ascent: 127 m
Category: 4