Valico della Forchetta

Overview

Valico della Forchetta is a long, patient climb: 24.7 km of road that lifts you from 267 m at the base to 1281 m at the summit. That is 1014 m of net elevation gain, and because the climb runs uphill throughout, the total ascent matches it exactly at 1014 m — there are no descents to give back what you have earned. The average gradient is a modest-sounding 4.11%, but at nearly 25 km in length that number hides a lot of work. This is a Category 1 climb, the second-hardest rating below hors catégorie, and it earns that label through sheer duration rather than relentless steepness.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is deceptive. A 4.11% average across 24.7 km means long stretches of shallow, rolling grade — the kind of pitch where you can hold a rhythm and settle into the climb. But the maximum gradient touches 11.1%, so the road is far from uniform. Expect the profile to swing well above and below the average: gentle drags where you can breathe and recover, punctuated by ramps that bite into the low double digits. Because the gain is spread over such a long distance, no single wall defines the climb. Instead, the difficulty accumulates. The 11.1% pitches are where you will lose or hold your rhythm, and the shallower sections in between are where a smart rider claws back composure before the next kick.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. The steady average rewards riders who resist the urge to chase the early ramps and instead hold a sustainable effort just below threshold. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a 24.7 km ascent you should be settling in at a percentage of that number you can hold for the better part of an hour, not a five-minute burst. Save headroom for the 11.1% pitches, where power naturally spikes, and let the shallower drags act as active recovery. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target so your pacing plan is built on real data rather than optimism. Go out too hard on the lower slopes and the final kilometres toward 1281 m will punish you.

Gearing

With 1014 m to gain and gradients reaching 11.1%, gearing generously is the sensible choice — you want to spin, not grind, over 24.7 km. A compact chainring paired with a wide cassette is the right foundation. A 34×32 will handle most of the climb and keep your cadence comfortable through the average sections. But for the 11.1% ramps, and for the fatigue that builds late on a climb this long, a 34×34 gives you the extra rescue gear that keeps your legs turning when the road tilts up. If your bike accepts it, favour the 34×34; the lower limit costs you nothing on the shallows and saves you on the steeps.

Summary

Valico della Forchetta is a Category 1 climb defined by its length rather than its ferocity: nearly 25 km of steady gain with occasional sharp ramps to keep you honest. Pace it patiently, gear it low, and let the shallow sections do their work between the 11.1% bites.

Length: 24.7 km
Average gradient: 4.11%
Max gradient: 11.1%
Start: 267 m
Summit: 1281 m
Net gain: 1014 m
Total ascent: 1014 m
Category: 1