Passo di Albiona

Overview

Passo di Albiona is a Category 1 climb that packs a serious punch into a compact 9 km. Starting at 305 m and topping out at 1101 m, it delivers 796 m of net elevation gain over its length, with a total ascent of 736 m once you account for the profile's minor dips. The average gradient of 8.8% is unforgiving on its own, but the headline number is the 31.49% maximum — a wall steep enough to force even strong riders out of the saddle or, on the wrong gearing, off the bike entirely. This is a climb defined by sustained steepness rather than distance, the kind of effort that rewards patience and punishes overconfidence in the opening kilometres.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With 796 m of net gain packed into 9 km, there is nowhere on Albiona to truly recover. An 8.8% average across the full distance means the "easy" stretches are still hard, and the climb spends much of its time above that figure to compensate for any flatter sections. The gap between the 736 m total ascent and the 796 m net gain tells you the profile is remarkably clean — almost every metre climbed stays climbed, with little false-flat or descent to break the rhythm. The defining feature is the 31.49% maximum pitch, more than three times the average. Expect the road to lull you into a grind before rearing up without warning. Ramps like that arrive fast, so read the road ahead and shift early rather than reacting mid-pitch.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and sustained, pacing is everything. The 8.8% average over 9 km means the total effort sits well above threshold for most amateurs, so treat your FTP as a ceiling you flirt with, not a target you hold. Start conservatively — the temptation to attack the lower slopes will cost you dearly when the gradient bites near the 31.49% ramp. If you are unsure of your sustainable power, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, and set a wattage cap you can defend for the full ascent. On the steepest pitches, accept that cadence will drop and speed will crawl; the goal is to keep moving without red-lining. Save a little in reserve so the summit push at 1101 m does not turn into a survival crawl.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With an 8.8% average and a 31.49% spike, Albiona demands the lowest ratios you can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the minimum sensible setup: a 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections, but the 31.49% wall is where a 34×34 earns its keep, giving you the extra margin to keep the pedals turning when the road stands up. If your bike accepts a larger cassette or a sub-compact crank, take it — spinning a low gear beats grinding to a stall on a ramp this severe.

Summary

Passo di Albiona is a short, ferociously steep Category 1 climb: 9 km of near-constant effort at 8.8%, crowned by a 31.49% maximum that defines the whole ascent. Gear low, start easy, and respect the wall.

Length: 9 km
Average gradient: 8.8%
Max gradient: 31.49%
Start: 305 m
Summit: 1101 m
Net gain: 796 m
Total ascent: 736 m
Category: 1