Forca di Penne

Overview

Forca di Penne is a category-2 climb that trades brute steepness for sustained, honest effort. Over 13.4 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 227 m to a summit of 920 m, a net elevation gain of 693 m. The average gradient sits at a steady 5.16%, the kind of number that looks approachable on paper but adds up over the better part of an hour in the saddle. This is a rhythm climb: long enough to matter, moderate enough to reward patience, and unforgiving of anyone who burns their matches early.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is that 5.16% average, but averages hide the texture. With a maximum gradient of 9.39%, the climb is not perfectly uniform — there are pitches that nearly double the average and force you out of your comfortable seated cadence. Note too the gap between the net elevation gain of 693 m and the total ascent of 670 m: the discrepancy tells you the road isn't a single unbroken ramp. There are small releases and flatter breathers folded into the 13.4 km, brief windows where the gradient eases before tilting back up. Treat the 9.39% sections as the crux and the mellower stretches as recovery, not as an invitation to attack.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this length, pacing is everything. Aim to settle in just below your threshold and hold it — a sustained effort near your FTP will carry you up the steady 5.16% gradient far more efficiently than surging on every ramp. When the road bites toward 9.39%, let your speed drop and your cadence fall rather than spiking your power; you'll pay for over-efforts across the full 13.4 km. If you're unsure what wattage to target, run your numbers through the FTP estimator first and set a ceiling you can defend from bottom to top. The goal is to crest the 920 m summit having spent evenly, not to win the first kilometre.

Gearing

At 5.16% average with spikes to 9.39%, you want a gear that lets you spin rather than grind. A compact setup is the sensible choice here. A 34×32 will cover most riders comfortably on the steady sections and give you enough range to keep a workable cadence when the gradient hits its 9.39% max. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance across the full 13.4 km, step up to a 34×34 — the extra sprocket keeps your legs turning on the steepest pitches and protects your knees late in the climb when fatigue sets in.

Summary

Forca di Penne is a classic sustained category-2 effort: 13.4 km of steady 5.16% climbing with enough gradient variation to keep you honest. Pace it below threshold, gear it to spin, and the 693 m of net gain to the 920 m summit becomes a satisfying, repeatable challenge rather than a survival exercise.

Length: 13.4 km
Average gradient: 5.16%
Max gradient: 9.39%
Start: 227 m
Summit: 920 m
Net gain: 693 m
Total ascent: 670 m
Category: 2