Sella dell'Auccia

Overview

Sella dell'Auccia is a full-blown HC monster — the kind of climb that rewrites your idea of what "long and steep" means. Over 21.9 km it lifts you from 399 m to a lofty 2100 m summit, a net gain of 1701 m at an average gradient of 7.77%. That average alone would qualify most climbs as savage, but the number that defines this ascent is the 33.7% max gradient: a wall so steep it forces a mental recalibration before you even clip in. Add a total ascent of 1804 m across the effort, and you have a climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the average and the maximum tells the real story. A 7.77% mean over 21.9 km is relentless on its own, but the 33.7% spike means the road is anything but uniform. Expect stretches that sit near or above the average, punctuated by ramps that briefly hit double or triple that figure. Because the total ascent (1804 m) exceeds the net gain (1701 m), there are false flats or slight dips built into the profile — roughly 103 m of "extra" climbing hidden inside descents and recoveries. Those brief eases are deceptive: they interrupt rhythm rather than restore it, and the steepest pitches tend to arrive when your legs are least prepared.

Pacing Notes

Twenty-one-plus kilometres is a long time to hold a hard effort, so treat this as a threshold-management exercise rather than a series of attacks. Anchor your pacing to your FTP and hold well below it on the sustained sections so you keep reserves for the 33.7% ramps, where power spikes are unavoidable. On a climb averaging 7.77% you'll be at or near threshold far longer than on a punchy climb, so err conservatively in the opening kilometres — the summit at 2100 m is a long way up. If you're unsure of your numbers, run them through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target, then subtract a margin to survive the walls.

Gearing

Do not underestimate the 33.7% max. Compact chainrings are the sensible baseline here, and even strong riders should think hard about their cassette. A 34×32 is the practical minimum for most fit amateurs tackling a 7.77% average over 21.9 km, but for the steepest ramps a 34×34 gives you the extra bailout ratio that keeps your cadence alive and your knees intact. Given the 1701 m of net climbing and pitches into the thirties, choosing the easier 34×34 setup is rarely a decision you'll regret near the top.

Summary

Sella dell'Auccia earns its HC rating outright: long, steep, and topped by pitches that border on absurd. Pace it off your threshold, gear it generously, and respect the 2100 m altitude — this is a climb to survive intelligently, not muscle through.

Length: 21.9 km
Average gradient: 7.77%
Max gradient: 33.7%
Start: 399 m
Summit: 2100 m
Net gain: 1701 m
Total ascent: 1804 m
Category: HC