Passo Saiardo

Overview

Passo Saiardo is a long, sustained ascent that starts almost at sea level and does not let up until you reach the summit. Over 17.2 km the road climbs from just 5 m of elevation all the way to 1168 m, a net gain of 1163 m. Because the profile keeps trending upward with almost no descending, the total ascent of 1168 m sits barely above that net figure — there is little respite built into the shape of this climb. With an average gradient of 6.78% and a maximum pitch of 15.79%, it earns its category 1 rating and demands genuine respect from anyone attempting it.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to internalize is 6.78%. That average is steep enough to stay in your legs for the full 17.2 km, but the story is really told by the gap between the average and the 15.79% maximum. A climb that averages 6.78% yet spikes to more than double that has an uneven personality: long stretches sit close to the mean, punctuated by ramps that lurch toward 15.79%. Because the start elevation is only 5 m and the summit is 1168 m, there is no plateau to hide behind — the road simply keeps going up. Expect the toughest pitches to feel disproportionately hard precisely because they arrive after you have already been climbing for kilometers without recovery.

Pacing Notes

Discipline is everything on a climb this long. The single biggest mistake is riding the early kilometers above your FTP and then unraveling when the gradient spikes toward 15.79%. Treat the 6.78% average as your metronome: settle into a sustainable effort and keep something in reserve for the steep ramps. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so you have a concrete target wattage rather than guessing by feel. With 1163 m of vertical to absorb, pacing by power or perceived effort — not ego — is what gets you to 1168 m intact. Ration your matches; the climb gives you 17.2 km to burn them, but the steepest pitches are where you will want them most.

Gearing

For a 17.2 km climb averaging 6.78% with ramps to 15.79%, gear for the steep sections, not the average. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the starting point. Pair it with at least a 34×32 for most riders — that ratio keeps your cadence alive through the sustained middle. If you climb at lower cadence, carry extra load, or simply want insurance against the 15.79% pitches near 1168 m, step up to a 34×34. The extra sprocket costs you nothing on the shallower gradients and buys you a spinnable gear exactly where the road bites hardest.

Summary

Passo Saiardo is a full-value category 1 climb: long, relentless, and topped by pitches that demand real climbing legs. Pace it patiently, gear it generously, and 1168 m becomes a reward rather than a reckoning.

Length: 17.2 km
Average gradient: 6.78%
Max gradient: 15.79%
Start: 5 m
Summit: 1168 m
Net gain: 1163 m
Total ascent: 1168 m
Category: 1