Sella delle Pozze

Overview

Sella delle Pozze is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest rung on the classification ladder above categories 1, 2, 3 and 4 — and it earns the label without ambiguity. Over 19.1 km the road lifts you from 206 m at the base to a summit at 1919 m, a net elevation gain of 1713 m. The average gradient of 8.97% is brutal on its own, but the real story is that this steepness is sustained across nearly twenty kilometers with almost no relief. This is not a climb with a token steep section bolted onto an easy road; it is relentless from bottom to top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 8.97% average held over 19.1 km means there is nowhere to hide. With a maximum gradient of 18.61%, the hardest ramps more than double the average — and because the mean stays so high, those spikes are not isolated. Expect long stretches sitting comfortably above 9% punctuated by pitches that lurch toward 18.61%. The total ascent of 1696 m sits just below the net gain of 1713 m, which tells you the profile is almost monotonically upward: virtually no descents or flat recovery interrupt the effort. Mentally, break the 19.1 km into thirds and treat each as its own climb, because the gradient will not let you coast between them.

Pacing Notes

The single biggest mistake here is starting too hard. On a climb this long and this steep, your FTP is the anchor for everything. Ride the lower slopes at or slightly below threshold and save margin for the 18.61% ramps, where staying seated and spinning beats forcing a big gear. If you do not know your threshold number, run the FTP estimator first and set a power ceiling before you turn a pedal. With 1713 m of climbing ahead, a sustainable early pace that you can actually hold to the 1919 m summit will always beat a heroic opening that blows apart halfway up. Fuel steadily and drink on the rare shallower sections, because the steep pitches will not offer the chance.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. For an 8.97% average that spikes to 18.61%, a 34×32 is the practical minimum for most riders, and even strong climbers will be grateful for it on the ramps. If your weight, fitness, or the length of the day gives you any doubt, fit a 34×34 — the extra sprocket keeps your cadence up on the steepest sections and protects your knees across the full 19.1 km. Given the sustained pitch and 1713 m of gain, err toward the easier setup; a 34×34 that you barely use costs nothing, while missing gears on an 18.61% wall costs the whole climb.

Summary

Sella delle Pozze is a genuine HC test: long, steep, and unbroken. At 19.1 km averaging 8.97% with ramps to 18.61%, it rewards conservative pacing and generous gearing. Respect the numbers, ride within your threshold, and the 1919 m summit is yours.

Length: 19.1 km
Average gradient: 8.97%
Max gradient: 18.61%
Start: 206 m
Summit: 1919 m
Net gain: 1713 m
Total ascent: 1696 m
Category: HC