Passo delle Radici

Passo delle Radici cycling climb profile

Passo delle Radici is a long, high-cost climb: 17.5 km at an average gradient of 7.7%, starting at 284 m and topping out at 1629 m. On paper, that combination matters more than any single ramp. The climb asks for sustained aerobic work, but the 14.01% maximum gradient means it is not simply a steady-tempo ascent where one gear and one effort will carry you cleanly from bottom to summit.

With 1345 m of net elevation gain and an HC classification, this is a climb that rewards restraint early. The average gradient is already hard enough to sit near threshold for a long time, and any over-commitment on the lower slopes will make the steeper sections disproportionately expensive. The practical target is controlled pressure, not chasing speed.

How the gradient rides

The available profile data points to a climb defined by duration and sustained gradient rather than a short, violent wall. At 17.5 km, the key feature is accumulation. A 7.7% average over this distance gives very few free metres, and the 14.01% maximum confirms that the gradient can bite well above the headline average.

That gap between average and maximum is important. A rider who paces only off the 7.7% figure risks being caught under-geared or over-threshold when the road steepens. The better read is this: treat the climb as a long threshold-adjacent effort with short sections that may demand torque management and cadence protection.

Pacing notes

Start below the effort you think the average gradient deserves. On an HC climb of this length, the first tactical mistake is usually made before the climb feels hard. If using power, anchor the opening phase under your sustainable climbing target, then let the effort rise only once the climb has settled and the summit is no longer a distant problem. For reference work, use /glossary/ftp or estimate your current benchmark with /tools/ftp-estimator before building pacing targets.

The 14.01% maximum gradient should shape the entire ride plan. Do not burn matches every time the road kicks up. Keep the upper body quiet, shift early, and allow speed to fall rather than forcing cadence through the steepest pitches. The cost of fighting gravity at low cadence compounds quickly on a climb with this much total vertical demand.

Gearing and execution

Choose gearing for the maximum gradient, not the average. A setup that feels efficient at 7.7% can become a liability when the slope moves into double digits. The correct gear is the one that lets you stay seated and keep pressure smooth when the road reaches its steepest moments.

The cleanest way to ride Passo delle Radici is to divide it mentally into three demands: conserve, stabilise, then commit. Conserve early because the length is real. Stabilise through the middle because the average gradient leaves little recovery. Commit late only if the legs are still responding. The climb is not complicated on paper, but that is exactly why it can punish poor pacing: 17.5 km at 7.7% gives every early mistake enough time to surface.