San Pellegrino Pass

Overview

San Pellegrino Pass is a Category 1 climb that asks a real question of your legs. Over 15.2 km it rises from 847 m to a 1910 m summit, a net gain of 1063 m, at an average gradient of 7.01%. That average alone marks it as a sustained, unrelenting effort — there is very little on this road that lets you coast. With a maximum pitch of 17.93%, the climb also has a genuine sting hidden in its length, and the total ascent of 1049 m confirms that almost every metre of forward progress is also a metre skyward.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency. An average of 7.01% held across 15.2 km means there is no long valley of recovery to break the rhythm — the road simply keeps tilting upward. Where the climb changes character is in its steepest sections, which spike as high as 17.93%. That is more than double the average, so the ramps you meet will feel dramatically harder than the number on the sign suggests. Expect to settle into a steady tempo on the 7% stretches, then be forced out of the saddle when the gradient more than doubles toward 17.93%. The gap between the net gain of 1063 m and the total ascent of 1049 m tells you this is a clean, upward-only profile: no meaningful descents interrupt the work.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long and this steep, pacing is everything. The 15.2 km distance means you cannot bury yourself early and hope to hang on — the 7.01% average will expose any rider who starts above threshold. Aim to hold the sustained sections just below your FTP, leaving a reserve for the 17.93% ramps where power inevitably spikes. If you do not know your threshold, use the FTP estimator before you plan your effort. A useful rule: on the 7% stretches, ride to a number you could theoretically sustain for the full 1063 m of climbing; on the steepest pitches, accept a short surge above that, then settle straight back down.

Gearing

Gearing choice will make or break your day on San Pellegrino Pass. With a 17.93% maximum and a 7.01% average sustained over 15.2 km, you want low-end range and the freedom to spin. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette combination is a sensible baseline for strong climbers, giving enough torque to hold cadence on the steady gradient. For most riders, and especially anyone chasing the 1063 m of gain at conversational effort, go one step lower to 34×34. That extra sprocket is exactly what you want when the road reaches toward 17.93% and standing on the pedals is no longer optional.

Summary

San Pellegrino Pass is a Category 1 test of endurance and pacing: 15.2 km of near-constant 7.01% climbing, punctuated by a wall of 17.93%, carrying you from 847 m to 1910 m. Bring low gears, ride within yourself, and respect the total ascent of 1049 m.

Length: 15.2 km
Average gradient: 7.01%
Max gradient: 17.93%
Start: 847 m
Summit: 1910 m
Net gain: 1063 m
Total ascent: 1049 m
Category: 1