Portella del Vento

Overview

Portella del Vento is an 11.4 km Category 2 climb that rewards steadiness over heroics. From a start elevation of 538 m, the road works its way up to a summit at 1127 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 589 m. The average gradient sits at a manageable 5.17%, but a maximum pitch of 10.02% means there is a sting hidden somewhere in the middle of that number. With a total ascent of 566 m recorded across its rolling profile, this is a climb you can settle into and ride to a rhythm, provided you respect the steeper stretches.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure — 5.17% average — is honest but incomplete. A climb that gains 589 m over 11.4 km cannot do so at a constant grade when its steepest ramp hits 10.02%, nearly double the mean. That gap tells you the profile is uneven: expect stretches that sit comfortably below the average, offset by pitches that push well into double figures. The total ascent of 566 m compared against the 589 m net gain confirms the road is largely one-directional upward, without significant descents to break your momentum. In practice, that means you climb almost continuously from 538 m to 1127 m, with the effort concentrated wherever the road tilts toward that 10.02% ceiling.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this length, discipline pays. Aim to hold a wattage you can sustain for the full 11.4 km rather than chasing the early ramps. A good anchor is your FTP: riding the sustained sections just under threshold leaves headroom to absorb the 10.02% pitches without blowing up. If you do not know your current number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan your effort — a 589 m ascent is long enough that a five-percent misjudgment in pacing compounds badly by the summit. Treat the average of 5.17% as your cruising target and let the steeper ramps briefly lift you above it, then recover as the grade eases back down.

Gearing

At 5.17% average with a 10.02% maximum, most riders will want compact gearing with a generous cassette. A 34×32 bottom gear handles the bulk of Portella del Vento comfortably, keeping your cadence up through the sustained middle grades. If you are carrying fatigue, riding at a lighter body weight-to-power ratio, or simply prefer to spin, step up to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket makes the 10.02% ramp far more civilised and protects your legs across the full 589 m of climbing. Either choice keeps you seated and rhythmic rather than grinding out of the saddle.

Summary

Portella del Vento is a classic Category 2 test: long enough to demand pacing, steep enough in places to punish over-ambition. Ride to your threshold, gear conservatively, and the 589 m to the summit will pass in a steady, satisfying rhythm.

Length: 11.4 km
Average gradient: 5.17%
Max gradient: 10.02%
Start: 538 m
Summit: 1127 m
Net gain: 589 m
Total ascent: 566 m
Category: 2