Cuel di Forcja

Overview

Cuel di Forcja is a category 1 climb that rewards patience over punch. It runs for 13.2 km at an average gradient of 5.72%, lifting you from a start elevation of 151 m to a summit at 906 m. That works out to 755 m of net elevation gain, with a total ascent of 763 m — the small gap between the two tells you the road briefly gives a little back before clawing it straight back. The headline max gradient of 11.15% is steep enough to sting, but it is the exception rather than the rule on a climb whose defining feature is sustained, honest effort.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the math on the shape and this climb reads as a long, steady grind rather than a wall. A 5.72% average across 13.2 km means the road rarely relents, but it also rarely spikes — the 11.15% max is more than double the average, so the ramps that reach it are short and surrounded by gentler stretches. Because total ascent (763 m) sits just 8 m above the net gain (755 m), there is almost no descending mixed in: nearly every metre you climb, you keep. Expect a rhythm-based effort where the gradient hovers around that mid-5% figure for long spells, occasionally kicking toward double digits before easing back. Save mental energy for those pitches; the rest is a metronome.

Pacing Notes

On a 13.2 km climb, going out too hard is the classic mistake. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a wattage you can sustain for the full duration rather than chasing the early slopes. A climb of this length will typically take well over half an hour for most riders, so treat it as a threshold-adjacent effort, not a sprint. If you do not know your current FTP, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you set your target, then meter yourself: sit a touch below threshold on the steady 5.72% sections and allow brief surges over the 11.15% ramps, settling straight back rather than staying pinned.

Gearing

The 5.72% average is manageable in the saddle, but 13.2 km of it plus ramps to 11.15% will drain your legs, so gear for the long haul. A compact 34-tooth inner paired with a 34×32 gives most fit riders enough range to spin the steady sections comfortably and survive the steepest pitches without grinding to a crawl. If you climb at lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance for the 11.15% kicks late in the climb, step up to 34×34 — the extra sprockets keep your cadence alive when fatigue arrives near the 906 m summit. There is no shame in the easier ratio on a category 1 effort.

Summary

Cuel di Forcja is a long, steady category 1 climb that rewards discipline: pace to your FTP, gear generously, and let the near-constant gradient do the work of wearing down anyone who went out too fast.

Length: 13.2 km
Average gradient: 5.72%
Max gradient: 11.15%
Start: 151 m
Summit: 906 m
Net gain: 755 m
Total ascent: 763 m
Category: 1