Passo Godi

Overview

Passo Godi is a long, patient climb. Over 27.2 km the road lifts you from a start elevation of 464 m to a summit at 1588 m, banking 1124 m of net elevation gain along the way. The average gradient reads a modest 4.14%, but do not let that number lull you: at more than 27 km, this is a Category 1 ascent that asks for staying power rather than raw punch. It is the kind of climb where the clock, not the slope, does the damage.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figures tell a story of contrast. A 4.14% average across 27.2 km sounds gentle, yet the road pitches up to 9.89% at its steepest — well over twice the mean. That gap between average and max is the defining feature here. Long stretches of shallow, rolling drag are punctuated by ramps that briefly double the effort, so your rhythm rarely settles for long.

Note too the small difference between net elevation gain (1124 m) and total ascent (1111 m). With total ascent actually 13 m less than the net gain, the profile is almost entirely one-directional: you climb, and you keep climbing, with essentially no descending to recover on. Every metre you earn is a metre you keep. That relentlessness is what makes a 4.14% average feel harder in the legs than on paper.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. Aim to hold a steady, sustainable effort just below your threshold rather than chasing the 9.89% ramps out of the saddle. Spikes cost far more energy than they save time over 27.2 km, and with 1124 m to gain there is no room to blow up early.

A good target is a percentage of your FTP that you can hold for the full duration — for most riders that means settling into a controlled tempo and saving matches for the steepest pitches. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you plan your effort, then anchor your ride to that figure rather than to how you feel in the first few kilometres, when everything feels easy.

Gearing

Because the average is moderate but the ramps hit 9.89%, gearing should protect your cadence on the steep sections without over-gearing the shallow drag. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette is ideal. A 34×32 will cover most of the climb comfortably and let you spin through the 9.89% pitches without grinding.

If you are a lighter-wattage rider, carrying fatigue late in a 27.2 km effort, or simply prefer to spin, step up to a 34×34. That extra rear cog buys you a lower gear for the ramps and keeps your cadence high across the full 1124 m of climbing, which matters most when the summit at 1588 m is still an hour of pedalling away.

Summary

Passo Godi rewards patience over power: a long Category 1 haul where a modest average masks steep, energy-sapping ramps and near-continuous climbing. Pace it by the numbers, gear for cadence, and let the distance come to you.

Length: 27.2 km
Average gradient: 4.14%
Max gradient: 9.89%
Start: 464 m
Summit: 1588 m
Net gain: 1124 m
Total ascent: 1111 m
Category: 1