Passo delle Zigolade

Overview

Passo delle Zigolade is a long, steady category-1 climb that rewards patience over punch. It runs for 20.6 km at an average gradient of 5.91%, lifting you from a start elevation of 535 m to a summit at 1752 m. That is a net elevation gain of 1217 m, packed into a single sustained effort. With a maximum gradient of 11.5%, the climb never becomes truly savage, but it also never lets you coast for long. The recorded total ascent of 1197 m confirms this is an almost relentlessly upward road, with only marginal dips to break the rhythm.

At more than twenty kilometres, Zigolade sits firmly in the endurance category of climbs. It is the kind of ascent that separates riders who paced well from those who went out hot and paid for it in the final third.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story here is consistency. An average of 5.91% across 20.6 km means most of the climb sits in a manageable tempo band, the sort of grade you can turn over for a long time if you are honest with yourself early. The gap between the 5.91% average and the 11.5% maximum tells you the hard ramps are real but contained: expect pinches that briefly spike toward 11.5% before the road relaxes back toward the average.

Because net gain (1217 m) slightly exceeds total ascent (1197 m), there is essentially no meaningful downhill respite baked into the route. What you climb, you keep. Treat every steeper ramp as a local event, not a wall, and let the gradient settle back before you react.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. Aim to hold a sustainable effort just below your threshold rather than chasing the steep pitches. Your FTP is the number to anchor to here: sitting a touch under it for 20.6 km is far more efficient than surging on every ramp toward 11.5% and blowing up before the summit.

If you are not sure what power you can hold for an effort of this length, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator. Then ride the early kilometres slightly conservatively. With 1217 m of climbing ahead, the time you lose being patient low down is repaid many times over in the final stretch toward 1752 m.

Gearing

For a 20.6 km climb averaging 5.91% with ramps to 11.5%, gearing generously is smart. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette keeps your cadence high and your legs fresh. A 34×32 will handle most of the ascent comfortably, letting you spin through the sustained tempo sections.

For the steeper pinches toward 11.5%, or if you simply want more margin over 1217 m of gain, step up to 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence out of the grinding zone on the hardest ramps and protects your legs for the long haul to the summit.

Summary

Passo delle Zigolade is a classic long-tempo category-1 climb: 20.6 km of steady work, no real recovery, and a payoff at 1752 m. Pace it under threshold, gear it kindly, and let its consistency work for you.

Length: 20.6 km
Average gradient: 5.91%
Max gradient: 11.5%
Start: 535 m
Summit: 1752 m
Net gain: 1217 m
Total ascent: 1197 m
Category: 1