Passo Gole Larghe

Overview

Passo Gole Larghe is a long, honest category-1 ascent that rewards patience over punch. Across 17.6 km the road lifts you from 564 m to 1749 m, a net gain of 1185 m, with a total measured ascent of 1180 m — meaning almost every metre you climb is a metre you keep. The average gradient of 6.73% sits in the zone that feels manageable in isolation but compounds ruthlessly over a climb this length. This is a full hour or more of sustained effort, not a short, sharp test, and it should be respected as such from the first pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is 6.73%, but averages flatten the story. With a maximum pitch of 28.4%, this climb clearly hides ramps far steeper than its mean suggests — and where the peak hits nearly the wall, other sections must ease off to balance the arithmetic. Expect the road to breathe: stretches close to the average that let you settle into rhythm, broken by abrupt kicks that force you out of the saddle and spike your heart rate. The gap between a 6.73% average and a 28.4% maximum is 21.67 percentage points, and that spread is the defining challenge here. Read the road ahead, and never let a steep ramp panic you into burning matches you'll want later.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of 17.6 km, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a power that you could sustain for the full duration rather than chasing the early ramps. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle Gole Larghe — pacing blind on 1185 m of climbing is how riders blow up two-thirds of the way to the summit. On the steepest pitches toward 28.4%, accept that power will surge briefly; the goal is to keep those spikes short and return to threshold quickly rather than red-lining through every kick.

Gearing

Gearing is what separates a controlled climb from a survival grind here. For a 6.73% average with ramps toward 28.4%, give yourself margin. A 34×32 is the sensible floor for strong climbers who can turn a bigger gear on the steep sections, but most riders will be glad of a 34×34 — that extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive when the road bites and protects your legs across the full 17.6 km. If your bike allows an even wider range, take it: spinning a low gear costs nothing and preserves the muscular endurance you'll need to reach 1749 m intact.

Summary

Passo Gole Larghe is a climb of attrition — long, sustained, and spiked with pitches that demand real gearing and disciplined pacing. Get your effort right early, gear low enough to absorb the ramps, and the summit is yours.

Length: 17.6 km
Average gradient: 6.73%
Max gradient: 28.4%
Start: 564 m
Summit: 1749 m
Net gain: 1185 m
Total ascent: 1180 m
Category: 1