Passo di Gana Negra

Overview

Passo di Gana Negra is a long-haul category-1 climb that trades brute steepness for sheer endurance. Over 27.2 km it lifts you from a valley start at 457 m to a summit of 1870 m, a net gain of 1413 m. The average gradient of 5.2% sounds gentle, and in isolation it is — but sustaining that slope for the better part of an hour and a half is what makes this ascent bite. With a max gradient of 11.37% tucked into its length, the climb rewards patience far more than aggression.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number, 5.2%, describes the whole climb but hides its texture. Total ascent is logged at 1400 m against a net gain of 1413 m, meaning the road climbs almost relentlessly with only trivial relief — there are no meaningful descents to recover on. That is the defining shape here: an unbroken upward drag rather than a series of ramps and flats.

The single hardest pitch reaches 11.37%, more than double the average. Because the mean is only 5.2%, those steeper metres are balanced by long shallower sections nearer 3–4%. Expect the effort to ebb and flow around the average: stretches where you spin comfortably, punctuated by pinches where the gradient briefly more than doubles and forces you out of rhythm. Reading the road ahead and staying seated through the ramps keeps your effort even across all 27.2 km.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Your FTP is the number that matters most — aim to sit just below it for the full 27.2 km rather than surging on every steep section. If you do not know yours, the FTP estimator gives you a working figure to anchor your target power.

A sensible plan is to hold a steady tempo on the 5.2% average and allow your effort to lift only slightly on the 11.37% pinches, letting momentum and cadence carry you rather than raw wattage. With 1413 m of vertical to absorb and no descents to reset your legs, anyone who empties the tank in the first third will pay for it dearly across the final kilometres to 1870 m.

Gearing

Given the length and that 11.37% maximum, gearing for endurance is the smart call. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette is ideal. For most riders a 34×32 covers the steeper ramps while keeping cadence sensible on the long 5.2% stretches. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance for the back half of the climb, step up to a 34×34 — the extra sprocket buys you a lighter, spinnable gear that keeps your legs turning over rather than grinding when fatigue sets in over 1413 m of gain.

Summary

Passo di Gana Negra is an endurance climb first and foremost: 27.2 km of near-continuous ascent averaging 5.2%, with a lone 11.37% pinch to keep you honest. Pace it below threshold, gear low, and let the long, steady drag to 1870 m come to you.

Length: 27.2 km
Average gradient: 5.2%
Max gradient: 11.37%
Start: 457 m
Summit: 1870 m
Net gain: 1413 m
Total ascent: 1400 m
Category: 1