Passo di Pozzaiolo

Overview

Passo di Pozzaiolo is a genuine hors catégorie test, and the numbers leave no doubt why. Over 15.4 km the road climbs from a start elevation of 294 m to a summit at 1566 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 1272 m. The average gradient of 8.28% is already brutal by any standard, but the total ascent of 1307 m — some 35 m more than the net gain — tells you the road doesn't rise in a clean, uninterrupted line. There is a little give-back in there, which means the pitches that do climb are steeper than the average implies. Factor in a maximum gradient of 22.96% and you have a climb that punishes anyone who arrives without a plan.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of this climb in terms of its shape rather than any single figure. With 1272 m of net gain spread across 15.4 km and a total ascent of 1307 m, roughly 35 m of the climbing is "lost" to short descents or flatter respites and then reclaimed. That reclaiming is where the pain lives: to average 8.28% while conceding those metres, the steep sections have to bite hard. The 22.96% maximum is more than two and a half times the average, so expect ramps that spike well into the high teens and beyond before easing. The smart read is a climb of alternating severity — long grinding stretches near the 8.28% mean, broken by walls that briefly threaten to stall you. There is no single crux; the difficulty is cumulative across the full 15.4 km.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long and steep, pacing is everything. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power rather than the gradient in front of you. Your FTP is the number that matters here: at 15.4 km and 8.28% average, most riders will be climbing for well over an hour, so hold an effort you can defend for the duration and leave headroom for the 22.96% ramps, where power spikes are unavoidable. Resist the urge to attack early — the 1272 m of vertical will find you regardless. If you're unsure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator and set a target you can actually sustain from 294 m all the way to 1566 m.

Gearing

Gear for survival, not pride. An 8.28% average sustained over 15.4 km already demands a low bailout, and the 22.96% maximum makes it non-negotiable. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front, and for the cassette I'd recommend at least a 34×32 for strong climbers who can turn a big gear on grade. For most riders tackling 1272 m of net gain — and anyone not racing — go to 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive on the steepest walls and protects your legs across the full total ascent of 1307 m. When the gradient more than doubles the average, the difference between 34×32 and 34×34 is the difference between spinning and grinding to a halt.

Summary

Passo di Pozzaiolo earns its HC label the honest way: length, sustained steepness, and ramps that spike far above the mean. Respect the 8.28% average, gear for the 22.96% pitches, and pace to your FTP from bottom to top.

Length: 15.4 km
Average gradient: 8.28%
Max gradient: 22.96%
Start: 294 m
Summit: 1566 m
Net gain: 1272 m
Total ascent: 1307 m
Category: HC