Valico la Croce

Overview

Valico la Croce is a category 2 climb that runs 7.1 km from a valley floor at 146 m up to a summit of 546 m. On paper it is a steady, mid-length ascent: the average gradient is 5.65%, which sits squarely in the sustainable-tempo band for most riders. But the numbers hide a sting. The steepest section touches 11.97%, more than double the average, so this is not a climb you can simply switch off on. The net elevation gain is 400 m, with a recorded total ascent of 388 m — the small gap between the two hints at a short reprieve or a dip somewhere along the way, a place where the road eases before the effort resumes.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of Valico la Croce as an average that is built from unequal parts. A 5.65% mean over 7.1 km would be gentle if the road held that number the whole way. It does not. With a 11.97% maximum, the climb clearly stacks its difficulty into pitches that run well over the average, and to keep the mean at 5.65% those ramps have to be balanced by softer, shallower stretches. The 12 m difference between the 400 m net gain and the 388 m total ascent confirms a brief loss of height mid-climb — a downhill or flat beat that interrupts the rhythm. Practically, that means the hardest efforts are concentrated, not smeared evenly across the 7.1 km, so your legs will register spikes rather than one long grind.

Pacing Notes

Pace this climb by its average, not its maximum. At 5.65% over 7.1 km, a rider holding a steady tempo just under threshold will clear it efficiently — aim to sit at a percentage of your FTP that you can defend for the full duration rather than chasing the steep pitches. Bank effort on the shallower sections and spend it carefully on the ramps toward 11.97%, where cadence will drop and torque climbs. If you do not know your sustainable power yet, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first, then set a target you can hold from the 146 m base to the 546 m top without blowing up before the final pitches.

Gearing

For a 7.1 km climb averaging 5.65% with a 11.97% maximum, gearing is about protecting cadence on the steep pitches. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear will cover most riders comfortably on the sustained sections. If you spin a lower natural cadence, run less fitness on the day, or simply want insurance against the 11.97% ramps, drop to a 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your legs turning over instead of grinding to a torque-heavy near-stall when the road bites, which matters more here than raw speed given how the gradient clusters its difficulty.

Summary

Valico la Croce is an honest category 2 test: long enough to demand pacing discipline, steep enough in places to punish an over-eager start. Ride the 5.65% average, respect the 11.97% max, and gear so your cadence survives the ramps.

Length: 7.1 km
Average gradient: 5.65%
Max gradient: 11.97%
Start: 146 m
Summit: 546 m
Net gain: 400 m
Total ascent: 388 m
Category: 2