Passo Ventarola Sud

Overview

Passo Ventarola Sud is an 11.8 km climb that earns its Category 1 rating the honest way — through sustained effort rather than a single savage wall. From a low start at 50 m, the road works steadily upward to a summit of 900 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 850 m. The average gradient of 7.23% tells you most of the story: there is very little respite here. On a climb this long, an average that high means you spend the bulk of your time above threshold-adjacent effort, with a maximum pitch of 16.41% waiting to remind you that the road can always get steeper.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape of the climb is best understood through two numbers. The net gain is 850 m over the 11.8 km, yet the total ascent is measured at 831 m — a difference of 19 m that hints at a road which mostly points upward without meaningful descending false-flat to reset your legs. In practical terms, that means the 7.23% average is close to the gradient you actually feel, kilometre after kilometre.

The gap between the average and the 16.41% maximum — a spread of 9.18 percentage points — is where the real difficulty lives. Steep ramps rear up well above the average, forcing you out of rhythm, before the road settles back toward its steady grind. Expect the hardest pitches to bite where the gradient jumps toward that 16.41% peak, and plan to have something in reserve for them.

Pacing Notes

The single most important tool for a climb of this length is discipline. Set your effort by your sustainable ceiling, not by the ramp in front of you. Anchoring your pace to your FTP keeps you from burning matches on the 16.41% pitches that you will desperately want back near the summit at 900 m.

If you do not have a recent power test, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. On 11.8 km at 7.23% average, riding even slightly over your ceiling early compounds badly — the steepest sections punish riders who arrive already fatigued. Aim to hold a controlled, repeatable effort on the 7.23% stretches, then allow a measured surge to carry you over the ramps toward 16.41% rather than trying to hold constant power through them.

Gearing

Gearing is not optional insurance on this climb — it is the difference between spinning and grinding to a halt. For most riders, a compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get many strong riders up the 7.23% average, but the moment the road tips toward 16.41%, that ratio can force you into a leg-wrecking low cadence.

For anyone not racing, or on tired legs, a 34×34 is the smarter choice. That extra sprocket buys you the cadence to stay seated and controlled through the steepest pitches, protecting your legs across the full 11.8 km. When in doubt on a Category 1 climb of this profile, choose the easier gear.

Summary

Passo Ventarola Sud is a long, honest Category 1 climb: 11.8 km of near-constant 7.23% gradient, punctuated by ramps reaching 16.41%, lifting you 850 m from valley to summit. Pace it by your ceiling, gear low, and respect the steep sections.

Length 11.8 km
Average gradient 7.23%
Max gradient 16.41%
Start 50 m
Summit 900 m
Net gain 850 m
Total ascent 831 m
Category 1