Passo Nota

Overview

Passo Nota is an hors catégorie climb in Italy, and it earns that top billing the hard way. Over 14.4 km it averages 7.93%, lifting you from a low start elevation of 62 m to a summit at 1206 m. That is 1144 m of net elevation gain, with 1159 m of total ascent once the small rolling sections are counted. There is no gentle warm-up baked into the average here: a near-8% mean sustained for over fourteen kilometres is the kind of number that separates a hard day from a survival day. Add a max gradient of 31.66% and you have a climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is the 7.93% average, but averages hide the story. The 3 m gap between the 1144 m net gain and the 1159 m total ascent tells you there are brief flatter or descending kicks — small enough that you should treat this as an almost relentlessly uphill effort. What defines the climb's shape is the spread between the 7.93% average and the 31.66% max. A pitch that steep is more than four times the average, so somewhere on this ascent the road ramps into wall territory. Expect the difficulty to be uneven: stretches close to the mean that you can rhythm through, punctuated by ramps that spike far above it and force you out of the saddle.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. Fourteen-plus kilometres at 7.93% is far too long to attack from the bottom, so anchor your effort to your sustainable power rather than the gradient of the moment. Riding just under your FTP for the mean sections gives you the reserve to survive the 31.66% max ramp without blowing apart. If you do not know your threshold, estimate it first with the FTP estimator, then translate that into a target you can hold for the full 14.4 km. The single biggest mistake here is going too hard early: with 1144 m still to gain, a blown match near the bottom leaves a very long way to limp.

Gearing

This is a climb where gearing choices matter more than fitness bravado. With a 7.93% average dragging on for 14.4 km and a 31.66% max lurking, you want low gears and plenty of them. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible baseline for strong climbers, but most riders will be far happier with 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive on the steepest ramps toward the 1206 m summit and protects your legs across the sustained middle. When the road hits 31.66%, you will not regret having chosen the easier option.

Summary

Passo Nota is a true HC ascent: long, steep, and unforgiving, with a savage max pitch and over a thousand metres of climbing. Pace it conservatively, gear low, and respect the distance.

Length: 14.4 km
Average gradient: 7.93%
Max gradient: 31.66%
Start: 62 m
Summit: 1206 m
Net gain: 1144 m
Total ascent: 1159 m
Category: HC