Sella Nord Est del Monte Varagna

Overview

The Sella Nord Est del Monte Varagna is one of those climbs that leaves no room for negotiation. Over 13.6 km it averages 12.04% — a figure that would be a peak gradient on many "hard" climbs but here is simply the mean. You start at 67 m and finish at 1705 m, a net gain of 1638 m, with 1590 m of total ascent packed into a relentlessly upward road. Rated HC — hors catégorie, the hardest classification before you run out of categories entirely — it earns the label honestly. There is no warm-up valley, no false flat to shake out the legs. This is a wall from the bottom.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 12.04% across 13.6 km tells most of the story, but the shape matters. With a maximum of 25.74%, the road spikes to more than double its own average, meaning the steepest ramps are savage even by the standards of an already savage climb. Because the mean sits so high, there is very little recovery hidden between the hardest pitches — where other climbs give you a flatter section to reset, this one keeps the pressure near double digits almost throughout. The gap between the 12.04% average and the 25.74% max is 13.7 percentage points, so expect the gradient to surge and sag around that mean rather than settle. Treat every visible ramp as a potential 20%-plus wall and you will not be surprised.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this long, pacing is survival. Your sustainable power at FTP is the ceiling you must respect from the first pedal stroke — go over it early on the lower slopes and the upper ramps toward 1705 m will collapse your legs. Because the gradient rarely dips, you cannot bank recovery; aim to hold a steady effort just under threshold and let the steep pitches briefly push you above, then ease immediately after. If you are unsure of your number, run it through the FTP estimator before you commit to a plan. Over 1638 m of climbing, even small pacing errors compound into a full blow-up.

Gearing

Gear for the maximum, not the average. On a 12.04% average with 25.74% ramps, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with at least a 34×32 is the sensible floor — and honestly, most riders will be far happier with a 34×34. The extra tooth on the 34×34 lowers your cadence-preserving speed on the steepest walls, which is exactly what you want when the road tilts past 20%. If your setup allows an even wider cassette, take it; there is no vanity in surviving 13.6 km of this. Under-gearing here doesn't cost seconds, it costs the whole climb.

Summary

The Sella Nord Est del Monte Varagna is a pure HC test: long, viciously steep, and unforgiving from bottom to top. Respect your FTP, gear low, and treat the 1638 m of vertical as the honest challenge it is.

Length: 13.6 km
Average gradient: 12.04%
Max gradient: 25.74%
Start: 67 m
Summit: 1705 m
Net gain: 1638 m
Total ascent: 1590 m
Category: HC