Valico del Monte Carruozzo

Overview

Valico del Monte Carruozzo is a category 1 climb that asks a serious, sustained effort from anyone who takes it on. Over 13.7 km the road lifts you from a valley floor at 304 m to a summit of 1216 m, a net gain of 912 m. The average gradient sits at 6.64%, which is steep enough to keep you honest for the full distance but rarely brutal enough to force you off the bike — provided you respect it from the bottom. With a max pitch of 13.45%, there is at least one section that bites, so this is a climb of patience punctuated by moments that demand real force.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number, 6.64% averaged across 13.7 km, tells you this is a long grind rather than a wall. But averages hide the story. The gap between the 6.64% mean and the 13.45% maximum is nearly 7 percentage points, meaning the climb is not uniform: expect shallower stretches where you can find rhythm, offset by ramps that spike well into double digits. The recorded total ascent of 891 m runs slightly under the 912 m net gain, a sign the profile is a near-continuous climb with little to no descending or false flat to recover on. In practice, that means the elevation you earn is elevation you keep — there is nowhere to coast and reset. Plan to meter your effort so the steepest kicks, topping out at 13.45%, don't blow your legs apart before the summit at 1216 m.

Pacing Notes

The single most useful thing you can do here is settle into a sustainable power target and refuse to chase the steep sections. On a climb of this length, riding just above your FTP early will cost you dearly in the final kilometres. Aim to hold a steady effort at or just below threshold on the 6.64% average grade, then allow your power to rise briefly over the 13.45% ramps without redlining. If you don't know your threshold number, get a realistic figure first with the FTP estimator — pacing a 912 m climb by feel alone is how riders detonate two-thirds of the way up. Break the 13.7 km into thirds and check in with your breathing at each; the goal is to arrive at 1216 m tired but never truly cracked.

Gearing

For a category 1 climb of this length and pitch, gear generously — you want cadence in reserve for the 13.45% sections rather than grinding them out. A compact 34-tooth inner ring paired with a 34×32 setup is a sensible baseline for strong climbers who pace well. If you weigh more, are carrying luggage, or simply want to spin the steep ramps rather than muscle them, step up to 34×34. The extra range costs you nothing on the shallower parts of the 6.64% average and buys you a survivable cadence when the road tilts toward its max.

Summary

Valico del Monte Carruozzo is a long, honest category 1 climb: 13.7 km of near-continuous ascending, a steady 6.64% average with sharp 13.45% teeth, and 912 m of vertical between the 304 m base and the 1216 m summit. Pace it patiently, gear for the ramps, and it rewards you.

Length: 13.7 km
Average gradient: 6.64%
Max gradient: 13.45%
Start: 304 m
Summit: 1216 m
Net gain: 912 m
Total ascent: 891 m
Category: 1