Valico di Trensasco

Overview

Valico di Trensasco is a 5.6 km category-2 climb that starts at 42 m and tops out at 387 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 345 m. The average gradient of 6.19% puts it squarely in tempo-to-threshold territory: steep enough to demand respect, short enough that a smart effort can carry you all the way to the summit without blowing up. With a max pitch of 11.41% and a total ascent of 329 m logged across its rolling profile, this is a climb that rewards riders who read the road rather than attack it blindly.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 6.19% average, but averages hide the story. Over 5.6 km you gain 345 m net, yet the recorded total ascent of 329 m tells you the road is not a single uninterrupted ramp — there are brief levelling sections and small pitches that break the rhythm. The defining feature is the 11.41% maximum, a gradient nearly double the average. Expect the climb to alternate between sustainable 5-7% stretches and short, sharp kickers that sting the legs. Because the summit sits at 387 m and the base at just 42 m, the majority of the vertical arrives in the middle third, where the steepest ramps cluster before the grade eases toward the top.

Pacing Notes

Treat Valico di Trensasco as a threshold effort. With an average of 6.19% and a length of 5.6 km, most riders will spend between 20 and 35 minutes climbing depending on fitness — long enough that going into the red early on the 11.41% pitches will cost you dearly. Anchor your effort to your FTP: aim to sit just below it on the steady sections and allow yourself to drift above it only over the short steep ramps, recovering on the shallower stretches that follow. If you do not know your threshold power, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride so you have a target to pace against. The single biggest mistake here is treating the 6.19% average as constant and getting caught out when the gradient jumps to 11.41%.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 6.19% with pitches to 11.41%, gearing is about protecting your cadence on the steep ramps. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear will get most fit riders up comfortably, letting you spin rather than grind through the 11.41% sections. If you weigh more, ride at a lower threshold, or simply want insurance to keep your legs fresh over the full 345 m of climbing, opt for a 34×34. That extra sprocket costs nothing on the shallower stretches and buys real relief when the gradient bites near the middle of the ascent.

Summary

Valico di Trensasco is a punchy, well-shaped category-2 climb: 5.6 km of 6.19% average gradient with a bite that reaches 11.41%. Pace it to your threshold, gear low enough to spin the steep pitches, and it rewards you with a clean run to a 387 m summit.

Length: 5.6 km
Average gradient: 6.19%
Max gradient: 11.41%
Start: 42 m
Summit: 387 m
Net gain: 345 m
Total ascent: 329 m
Category: 2