Passo d'Orgials

Overview

Passo d'Orgials is a hors catégorie (HC) climb — the hardest rating there is, above categories 1 through 4 — and the numbers explain why. Over 21.7 km the road lifts you from 828 m at the base to 2768 m at the summit, a net gain of 1940 m. Sustain that for the full length and you average 8.94%. There is no gentle version of this climb: an HC label on a 21.7 km ascent means the difficulty is not a single wall but a duration problem. You are climbing for well over an hour on most legs, and the mountain rarely offers anywhere to switch off.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is the 8.94% average across all 21.7 km — steep enough that even the "easy" stretches are working stretches. Note that the net elevation gain of 1940 m sits above the total ascent of 1907 m, which tells you the profile trends relentlessly upward with almost no descending or flat relief to break the rhythm. On many long climbs the total ascent exceeds the net gain because of rolling dips; here they are effectively identical, so what you see on the average is close to what you feel the whole way up. Expect the gradient to hover near that 8.94% mean for long, unbroken sections, with the thinning air past 2000 m adding a bite the raw percentages don't show as you push toward 2768 m.

Pacing Notes

Because this is a duration effort, pacing is everything. On a climb of 21.7 km averaging 8.94%, going into the red early is punished mercilessly — there is no flat section ahead to recover on. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to ride the lower climb slightly below threshold, holding something in reserve for the final push into thin air near 2768 m. If you don't know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target power. A good rule for an HC climb this long: pick a wattage you're confident you can hold for the full ascent, then subtract a little for the altitude in the closing kilometres.

Gearing

On a sustained 8.94% grade over 21.7 km, gearing is not a luxury — it's what keeps your cadence out of the danger zone for the whole hour-plus. A compact 34-tooth inner ring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up, but on a climb that averages nearly 9% with zero recovery, a 34×34 gives you the extra spin you'll be grateful for late on, especially where the altitude past 2000 m saps your legs. Err toward the easier ratio: your knees and your pacing plan both benefit from a lower gear you can turn smoothly all the way to 2768 m.

Summary

Passo d'Orgials is a pure test of sustained climbing: 21.7 km, 8.94% average, and 1940 m of net gain to the roof at 2768 m. Pace it to your threshold, gear it low, and respect the altitude.

Length: 21.7 km
Average gradient: 8.94%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 828 m
Summit: 2768 m
Net gain: 1940 m
Total ascent: 1907 m
Category: HC