Sella di Vignola

Overview

Sella di Vignola is a category 2 climb that packs a serious punch into a compact 4.3 km. From a start elevation of 200 m to a summit at 504 m, it hauls you up a net 304 m of altitude at an average gradient of 7.04%. That number alone tells you this is no gentle drag — a sustained 7.04% over more than four kilometres sits firmly in the zone where your legs stop lying to you. Factor in the 10.92% max gradient and you have a climb that rewards patience early and honesty late.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figures describe a climb that stays relentlessly consistent rather than dramatically stepped. With a 7.04% average and a 10.92% maximum, the difference between the typical slope and the steepest pitch is under four points, so there are no long false flats to hide in and recover. The recorded total ascent of 289 m sits just below the net gain of 304 m, which tells you the road climbs almost continuously — there is little to no descending mixed in to reset your legs. Expect the gradient to hover near that 7.04% figure for long stretches, with the sharpest ramp toward 10.92% arriving where the road tightens. On a climb this short, every one of those steeper metres counts against your average speed.

Pacing Notes

Because Sella di Vignola is short and steep, it is a threshold effort from bottom to top rather than a long tempo grind. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: riding the first two kilometres slightly under threshold leaves headroom for the 10.92% pitch without blowing up. At 7.04% average, small surges cost you dearly, so aim for an even power output and let the steep section briefly lift you above FTP rather than starting hot. If you don't know your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your effort — pacing a 4.3 km climb by feel alone tends to end with a detonation halfway up.

Gearing

For a 7.04% average that spikes to 10.92%, gearing is your friend. Most riders will want a compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a generous cassette. A 34×32 gives you a low enough ratio to spin the sustained middle section without grinding, while a 34×34 buys you extra insurance for the steepest 10.92% ramp — especially late in the climb when fatigue has already eaten into your top-end. If you tend to mash rather than spin, or you're carrying gear, default to the 34×34. Preserving cadence on a climb this consistently steep matters more than saving a few grams.

Summary

Sella di Vignola is a concentrated, honest category 2 test: 4.3 km at 7.04% with a 10.92% sting, gaining 304 m from base to summit. Pace it to your threshold, gear low, and respect how little room a short climb gives you to recover.

Length: 4.3 km
Average gradient: 7.04%
Max gradient: 10.92%
Start: 200 m
Summit: 504 m
Net gain: 304 m
Total ascent: 289 m
Category: 2