Sella della Pridola

Overview

Sella della Pridola is one of those climbs that offers no hiding place. Over 11.2 km it averages 9.85%, a figure that sits well beyond what most riders can sustain for more than a few minutes, let alone the better part of an hour. You start at 551 m and finish at 1651 m, a net gain of 1100 m, with 1064 m of total ascent stacked into that single sustained effort. The category tells the rest of the story: HC, hors catégorie, the label reserved for the hardest climbs there are.

What makes Pridola so demanding is the combination of length and steepness. Plenty of climbs are steep for a kilometre or two. Plenty are long but gentle. Very few hold nearly 10% for over 11 km. This is a climb you respect from the first pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number here is that 9.85% average — but averages hide the sting. With a maximum pitch of 20.52%, the road spikes to more than double the mean in its cruelest moments. That means the "easy" stretches aren't truly easy; they're the sections that let the average sit where it does while the ramps claw it back upward.

Think of the profile as a wall with occasional steeper walls built into it. The 20.52% pitches are where cadence collapses, where you're grinding rather than spinning, and where riders who went out too hard start paying for it. Because the gradient rarely relents, there's little chance to recover your legs mid-climb. The 1100 m of vertical between the 551 m base and the 1651 m summit arrives in one continuous, unforgiving dose.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long and steep, pacing is everything. The margin between a controlled effort and a blow-up is razor-thin. Anchor your ride to power rather than feel: aim to hold a percentage of your FTP that you know you can defend for the full 11.2 km, not just the opening kilometres where adrenaline masks the cost.

If you're unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go. On the 20.52% ramps, accept that you'll briefly punch above threshold — that's unavoidable — but bracket those surges by easing back on the shallower sections so your average effort stays sustainable. Go into the red early on Pridola and the remaining metres of the 1100 m gain will feel bottomless.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. With a 9.85% average and pitches of 20.52%, you want the widest range you can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is the sensible starting point for strong climbers, but most riders will be far happier — and far faster over 11.2 km — with 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive on the steepest walls and protects your knees over the long haul. If your frame accepts an even larger cassette, take it. On an HC climb gaining 1100 m, spare gears are never wasted.

Summary

Sella della Pridola is a pure test of climbing endurance: long, steep, and utterly relentless from 551 m to 1651 m. Pace it with your head, gear it generously, and treat every ramp with respect.

Length: 11.2 km
Average gradient: 9.85%
Max gradient: 20.52%
Start: 551 m
Summit: 1651 m
Net gain: 1100 m
Total ascent: 1064 m
Category: HC