Passo dell'Alpe Tedesco

Overview

Passo dell'Alpe Tedesco is a category 2 climb that covers 10.7 km at an average gradient of 5.13%. It starts at 245 m and tops out at 794 m, a summit elevation that puts a net 549 m of vertical between you and the finish. The total ascent logged along the way is 522 m, which tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly without meaningful descending to interrupt it. The steepest ramp bites at 11.04%, so while the average reads as moderate, the climb is not uniformly gentle. This is a long, honest effort: sustained enough to matter, punchy enough in places to punish anyone who overcooks the early kilometres.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 5.13% average and the 11.04% maximum is the whole story here. Over 10.7 km, an average that modest means large stretches sit below the headline figure, and the road banks that saved gradient into steeper ramps elsewhere. Because the net gain of 549 m is slightly larger than the 522 m of total ascent listed, expect the profile to trend upward almost continuously rather than rolling up and down. Practically, plan for a rhythm-friendly lower and middle section broken by pitches climbing toward that 11.04% ceiling. Those are the moments where cadence drops and the climb asserts its category 2 rating. Read the road ahead: when the gradient eases back toward and below 5.13%, that is your window to recover and spin before the next steepening.

Pacing Notes

Treat the full 10.7 km as a threshold-paced effort rather than a series of sprints. Because the climb is long and sustained, your sustainable power around FTP is the number that governs how fast you reach 794 m without blowing up. If you do not know your ceiling, estimate it first with the FTP estimator and set a target you can hold across the whole 549 m of gain. Start a shade under threshold through the opening kilometres, keep a little in reserve for the ramps approaching 11.04%, and let the sections near the 5.13% average be where you settle your breathing. The riders who pace this well are the ones who resist the temptation to attack the first steep pitch and instead meter their effort evenly to the top.

Gearing

For a 10.7 km climb averaging 5.13% with ramps to 11.04%, gear for the steep pitches rather than the average. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible choice. A 34×32 will get most riders over the harder ramps while keeping cadence respectable, and if you favour a lighter, spinnier climbing style or expect to arrive at those 11.04% sections fatigued, a 34×34 gives you extra margin to keep the pedals turning. Given the sustained nature of the ascent, err toward the easier setup: protecting your legs early over the full 549 m of climbing pays off near the summit.

Summary

Passo dell'Alpe Tedesco rewards patience. It is a sustained category 2 test where an honest 5.13% average masks ramps to 11.04%, and smart pacing across all 10.7 km beats early aggression every time.

Length: 10.7 km
Average gradient: 5.13%
Max gradient: 11.04%
Start: 245 m
Summit: 794 m
Net gain: 549 m
Total ascent: 522 m
Category: 2