Portella Mannino

Overview

Portella Mannino is a category 2 climb that stretches 10.8 km from a valley floor at 137 m to a summit of 669 m. On paper the average gradient reads 4.94%, a figure that sounds gentle enough to lull you into a comfortable tempo. That average, though, hides a much broader range: the road ramps up to 12.45% at its steepest, more than double the mean. The net elevation gain is 532 m, while the total ascent measured along the road is 511 m — a small difference that tells you the profile is not a monotonous ramp but a road that undulates on its way up.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story of this climb is the gap between its numbers. A 4.94% average spread across 10.8 km is the kind of gradient a fit rider can hold for a long time, but the 12.45% maximum warns of ramps that spike well above what you can settle into. When the mean sits under 5% yet the peak clears 12%, the road is clearly built from contrast: shallower drags where you can recover, and short, sharp pitches that force you out of rhythm. The 21 m difference between the 532 m net gain and the 511 m total ascent confirms there are flatter or slightly downhill sections woven in — moments to breathe before the next kick.

Pacing Notes

Because the hard efforts here are concentrated in short ramps rather than sustained walls, pace this climb to the average and hold something in reserve for the pitches toward 12.45%. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on the shallower drags, sit a touch below threshold; when the road rears up, accept a brief surge over it rather than blowing apart trying to keep the same speed. Over 10.8 km and 532 m of gain, steady is faster than heroic. If you're unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your target power, then treat the steepest ramps as controlled, deliberate over-efforts rather than accidental ones.

Gearing

For a 4.94% average with spikes to 12.45%, most riders will want a compact setup with room at the bottom of the cassette. A 34×32 covers the bulk of the 10.8 km comfortably and will get you over the moderate ramps without grinding. But the 12.45% pitches are exactly where a bailout gear earns its keep — a 34×34 gives you a lower, spinnable ratio so you can keep your cadence up and protect your legs on the steepest sections. If your bike accepts it, fit the 34×34; the extra range costs you nothing on the flatter drags and saves you on the hard ones.

Summary

Portella Mannino rewards a rider who respects the spread between its numbers: an inviting 4.94% average, a 12.45% sting, and 532 m of climbing packed into 10.8 km. Pace to the mean, gear for the peak, and it becomes a satisfying category 2 test rather than a nasty surprise.

Length: 10.8 km
Average gradient: 4.94%
Max gradient: 12.45%
Start: 137 m
Summit: 669 m
Net gain: 532 m
Total ascent: 511 m
Category: 2