Risipass

Overview

Risipass is a Category 1 climb that packs a serious punch into a compact 9.7 km. From a start elevation of 739 m it grinds upward to a summit of 1458 m, a net gain of 719 m. That works out to an average gradient of 7.42%, the kind of sustained pitch that never quite lets you settle. There is no gentle valley run-in here to be found in the numbers: the moment the road tips up, it stays up. With 696 m of total ascent packed into under ten kilometres, Risipass sits firmly in the bracket of climbs that reward respect and punish overconfidence.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story of Risipass is written in the gap between its 7.42% average and its 16.83% maximum. A climb that averages over seven percent is already hard; one that spikes to nearly seventeen percent means the road is far from uniform. Expect the gradient to breathe — long stretches sitting near or just above the average, punctuated by sharp ramps where the surface kicks toward that 16.83% ceiling. Those steep pitches are where the climb is won or lost. Because the net gain of 719 m is so close to the total ascent of 696 m, there is very little downhill respite along the way: almost every metre you climb, you keep. This is a climb that trends relentlessly upward rather than rolling.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is about not overcooking the early ramps. Anchor your effort to your sustainable threshold rather than chasing the steepest sections. Riding at or just below your FTP for the length of a sub-ten-kilometre climb is realistic for most trained riders, but the 16.83% pitches will spike your power well above that whether you like it or not — so bank a little headroom for them. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your ride. Aim to arrive at the base fresh, hold a steady rhythm through the 7.42% average sections, and treat the ramps as short, controlled surges rather than all-out efforts.

Gearing

With a 7.42% average and ramps to 16.83%, gearing is not the place to be macho. A compact crankset paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections while keeping the cadence honest, but on the steepest pitches you will be grateful for one more sprocket — a 34×34 gives you a genuine bailout gear for the 16.83% ramps and lets you spin rather than grind when the road bites hardest. Over 719 m of climbing, protecting your knees and your matches with an easier ratio almost always pays off.

Summary

Risipass is short, steep and honest: 9.7 km that never pretends to be anything other than a climb. Pace it to your threshold, gear low enough to survive the ramps, and it becomes a satisfying test rather than a survival slog.

Length: 9.7 km
Average gradient: 7.42%
Max gradient: 16.83%
Start: 739 m
Summit: 1458 m
Net gain: 719 m
Total ascent: 696 m
Category: 1