Passo di Publino

Overview

Passo di Publino is a climb that belongs to a rare, punishing class. Over 12.8 km it averages a staggering 14.7% and carries you from a start elevation of 288 m all the way to a summit at 2172 m. That is a net elevation gain of 1884 m and a total ascent of 1856 m — numbers that place it firmly in the hors catégorie (HC) bracket, the hardest rating there is before the road simply stops being a road you ride and becomes one you survive.

An average gradient of 14.7% sustained across 12.8 km is the headline nobody can look away from. Most riders will have climbed nothing like it. This is not a climb you approach casually.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 14.7% average holding steady over the full 12.8 km, there is no meaningful respite to plan around. The defining feature of Publino's shape is relentlessness: the road climbs 1884 m from base to summit, and it does so without the flattering flat sections or false descents that make longer, gentler passes bearable.

Think of the ascent as one continuous wall rather than a series of ramps. Because the total ascent of 1856 m sits just below the net gain of 1884 m, the profile is almost entirely uphill with no significant dips — every metre you climb, you keep. Pace yourself as if the gradient never eases, because on this climb it essentially does not.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is everything. The margin for going too hard early is razor-thin: 14.7% for 12.8 km will expose any rider who starts above their sustainable ceiling. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a power target you know you can carry for the full duration, not just the opening kilometres.

If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. On a wall like Publino, riding a few percent under threshold from the base is far smarter than blowing apart with kilometres of 14.7% still overhead. Settle into a rhythm early and defend it.

Gearing

Do not underestimate the gearing you need here. A 14.7% average over 12.8 km demands the lowest ratios most riders can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible starting point, but on a climb this steep many riders will want to go further and run 34×34 for extra insurance on the sustained pitches.

If your bike accepts it, err toward the easier end. Spinning a lower gear at a higher cadence protects your legs across 1884 m of climbing far better than grinding a ratio that is even slightly too big.

Summary

Passo di Publino is one of the hardest climbs you can point a bike at: 12.8 km at a merciless 14.7%, gaining 1884 m to a 2172 m summit. Prepare your legs, your gearing, and your pacing plan accordingly.

Length: 12.8 km
Average gradient: 14.7%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 288 m
Summit: 2172 m
Net gain: 1884 m
Total ascent: 1856 m
Category: HC