Passo Malandrini

Overview

Passo Malandrini is a Category 1 monster of endurance, stretching 29.5 km from a valley floor at 122 m up to a summit of 1575 m. That is a net elevation gain of 1453 m, spread across an average gradient of 4.92%. On paper the average reads gentle, almost inviting — but the total ascent of 1567 m tells the truer story: this road rolls, dips and reclaims, so you climb more than the straight net figure suggests. Nearly 30 km of sustained effort at altitude is a serious day out, and the length alone earns its Category 1 billing.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not be fooled by the 4.92% average. A climb this long always hides its teeth in the distribution, and here the max gradient hits 22.47% — a wall steep enough to stall an unprepared rider mid-pedal-stroke. The gap between the 4.92% mean and that 22.47% spike is enormous, which means long shallow stretches must be balanced by short, brutal pitches. Expect the profile to breathe: sections where you can settle into a rhythm, punctuated by ramps that demand you get out of the saddle. Because the total ascent (1567 m) exceeds the net gain (1453 m) by 114 m, there are false descents where you give back hard-won height, only to earn it a second time.

Pacing Notes

On a 29.5 km climb, discipline beats bravado. The single most useful number you can carry up Malandrini is your FTP — it turns the guesswork of "how hard is too hard" into a target you can actually hold for the better part of an hour. Ride the shallow 4.92%-ish sections comfortably under threshold so you bank energy for the steep pitches, where the 22.47% ramp will briefly push you well over FTP whether you like it or not. Absorb those spikes, then recover on the easier grades rather than chasing lost seconds. If you have not pinned down your number yet, run our FTP estimator before you go, and pace the first two-thirds like the summit is still a long way off — because at nearly 30 km, it is.

Gearing

Gear for the wall, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low is the sensible baseline for most riders tackling 1453 m of climbing, giving you a spinnable escape for the sustained middle. But with a max gradient of 22.47%, plenty of riders will want the extra insurance of a 34×34 — that single extra sprocket can be the difference between spinning through the steep ramp and grinding to a halt. If your legs are already deep into the 1567 m of total ascent when the wall arrives, you will be grateful for every tooth.

Summary

Passo Malandrini rewards patience: long, sustained and topped by a genuinely vicious pitch, it is a climb that punishes anyone who spends too early. Pace to your FTP, gear for the 22.47% wall, and respect the full 29.5 km.

Length: 29.5 km
Average gradient: 4.92%
Max gradient: 22.47%
Start: 122 m
Summit: 1575 m
Net gain: 1453 m
Total ascent: 1567 m
Category: 1