Sega di Ala

Overview

Sega di Ala is one of those climbs that leaves no room to hide. Over 11.8 km it averages a savage 10.47%, hauling you from a start elevation of 144 m to a summit at 1379 m. That is 1235 m of net elevation gain packed into a single, unrelenting effort, with 1219 m of total ascent — meaning the road barely lets up long enough for a false flat, let alone a descent. Rated HC (hors catégorie, the hardest tier above categories 1 through 4), it earns the label honestly. A double-digit average gradient sustained for nearly twelve kilometres is the kind of statistic that separates a hard day from a genuinely intimidating one.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The number that defines this climb is not the 10.47% average — it is the gap between that average and the 21.54% maximum. That is an 11.07-point spread, and it tells you the road does not climb smoothly. When a max gradient more than doubles the average, you are dealing with ramps that spike viciously above what your legs have settled into. Long stretches sit in the low-to-mid teens, punctuated by pitches that lurch toward the 21.54% ceiling. There is no rhythm section to recover on: the average stays in double digits from bottom to top, so the "easy" parts are still steep. Expect to be out of the saddle repeatedly, not by choice but by necessity.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this long, pacing is everything — go too hard on the first ramps and the back half will unravel. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below it on the sustained sections, saving a little headroom for the pitches that spike toward 21.54%. If you do not have a recent number, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. The trap here is that a 10.47% average leaves no flat to bleed off excess effort; every watt over threshold is paid back with interest. Ride the steepest ramps a touch harder, then immediately settle — never let the surges become your baseline.

Gearing

Bring more gear than you think you need. With a 10.47% average and ramps toward 21.54%, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 is the sensible minimum, and many riders will be far happier on a 34×34. On the steepest pitches even 34×34 can feel tall, so if your derailleur accepts a larger cassette, do not hesitate. Over 11.8 km of relentless climbing, spinning a low gear preserves your knees and your composure — grinding a big gear here is how days end early.

Summary

Sega di Ala is a pure HC test: nearly twelve kilometres that never drop below double digits, with ramps that punch past 21%. Respect the numbers, gear low, and pace off your threshold.

Length: 11.8 km
Average gradient: 10.47%
Max gradient: 21.54%
Start: 144 m
Summit: 1379 m
Net gain: 1235 m
Total ascent: 1219 m
Category: HC