Sella Est dei Campiluzzi

Overview

Sella Est dei Campiluzzi is a hors catégorie climb that earns its rating on raw numbers alone. Over 21.6 km it averages 8.43%, and it does so while lifting you from a start elevation of 182 m all the way to a 2000 m summit. That is 1818 m of net elevation gain, with 1775 m of total ascent packed into a single, near-relentless push. A climb this long that refuses to dip below a steep average is a rare and punishing thing — there is almost nowhere to recover, and the 17.62% maximum gradient means the hardest ramps are genuinely severe.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of this climb is consistency of difficulty. An 8.43% average across 21.6 km is not the product of a few brutal walls stitched to flat run-outs; it is sustained, grinding steepness held for the better part of an hour or more. Expect the road to sit around or above its average for long stretches, punctuated by pitches climbing toward the 17.62% maximum. The gap between the 8.43% average and that 17.62% peak — a swing of roughly 9.19 percentage points — tells you the hard sections spike hard, but never so far from the mean that you get true respite. Treat every ramp as a moment to protect your effort rather than attack, because there is always more climb above you: with 1818 m of net gain, you are ascending well beyond the altitude where the air thins and power sags.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of this length, discipline beats ambition. Your FTP is the anchor here: at 8.43% for 21.6 km, riding even slightly over threshold early will cost you dearly on the upper slopes. Aim to settle just below your sustainable ceiling and hold it, spending only brief matches on the steepest ramps toward 17.62% before easing straight back. If you are unsure of your number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. The last portion of the 1818 m gain arrives near the 2000 m summit, where reduced oxygen quietly trims what you can produce — bank nothing on a strong finish, and reserve enough to simply keep turning the pedals over.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With a sustained 8.43% average and pitches to 17.62%, most riders will want the widest range they can get. A 34×32 is the sensible floor for strong climbers, but given the length and the fact that fatigue compounds across 21.6 km, a 34×34 is the smarter choice for the majority — it lets you keep cadence up on the steep ramps instead of grinding to a survival crawl. Over 1775 m of total ascent, spinning a lower gear preserves your legs far better than muscling a bigger one.

Summary

Sella Est dei Campiluzzi is a genuine HC test: long, steep, and unforgiving from 182 m to 2000 m. Gear low, pace conservatively off your FTP, and respect the altitude in the final kilometres.

Length: 21.6 km
Average gradient: 8.43%
Max gradient: 17.62%
Start: 182 m
Summit: 2000 m
Net gain: 1818 m
Total ascent: 1775 m
Category: HC