Sella del Misone

Overview

Sella del Misone is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest rung on the classification ladder above categories 1, 2, 3 and 4. It runs for 22.5 km at an average gradient of 6.78%, lifting you from a start elevation of 89 m to a summit of 1612 m. That works out to a net elevation gain of 1523 m, though the total ascent of 1605 m tells the fuller story — there are enough dips and false flats along the way to add roughly 82 m of extra climbing on top of the net figure. This is a climb that rewards patience and punishes anyone who treats the friendly-looking average as the whole truth.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.78% average across 22.5 km sounds steady, but averages hide the sharp edges. The headline number here is the max gradient of 25.99% — a wall roughly four times steeper than the mean. On a climb this long, that spread means the road is anything but uniform: expect long sustained sections hovering near the average, broken up by pitches that rear well into the double digits. With 1605 m of total ascent packed into the profile, the climb never really relents; the brief shallower stretches that trim the net gain to 1523 m are recovery, not rest. Read the road ahead and save something for the ramps.

Pacing Notes

On a 22.5 km effort, pacing discipline is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below threshold on the sustained sections, holding a little in reserve for the steep pitches that climb toward 25.99%. Surging early over the first few kilometres is the classic error — with 1523 m of net gain stacked ahead of you, a blown match near the bottom costs dearly near the top. If you don't have a current threshold figure, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then set realistic power or heart-rate targets. On the steepest ramps, accept that your speed will crater and your cadence will drop; the goal is to keep the effort even, not the pace.

Gearing

Twenty-two and a half kilometres averaging 6.78% with spikes to 25.99% demands generous gearing. A compact 34-tooth inner ring is the sensible starting point. Pair it with at least a 34×32 low gear for most riders; if you weigh more, ride at lower cadence, or simply want to protect your knees over a climb this long, step up to a 34×34. On those near-26% pitches, the wider ratio buys you the cadence to keep spinning rather than grinding to a standstill. When in doubt on an HC climb, err toward the easier gear — you can never regret having one more cog to fall back on.

Summary

Sella del Misone is a long, uneven HC test: 22.5 km, 6.78% on average, and a summit at 1612 m. Respect the 25.99% ramps, gear low, pace to your threshold, and the 1523 m of net gain becomes a challenge you can savour rather than survive.

Length: 22.5 km
Average gradient: 6.78%
Max gradient: 25.99%
Start: 89 m
Summit: 1612 m
Net gain: 1523 m
Total ascent: 1605 m
Category: HC