Galičica

Overview

Galičica is a category 1 climb that packs serious punishment into 9.1 km. From a start elevation of 1039 m it hauls you all the way to a 1847 m summit, banking 808 m of net elevation gain with 833 m of total ascent — meaning almost every metre you climb, you keep. The average gradient of 8.85% is not a friendly number over this distance, and with pitches touching 20.55% this is a climb that rewards restraint early and punishes ambition late.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story of Galičica is written in that gap between the 8.85% average and the 20.55% maximum. An average this steep sustained for 9.1 km means there are no true recovery sections — the road simply oscillates between hard and brutal. The 22 m difference between net gain (808 m) and total ascent (833 m) tells you the profile is nearly monotonic: it barely dips, so you almost never coast. Expect the steepest ramps to arrive without much warning, spiking well above average before settling back toward the sustained 8.85% grind. Treat every double-digit pitch as a moment to protect your legs rather than attack.

Pacing Notes

On a climb averaging 8.85% for 9.1 km, pacing is everything. Riding near or above your threshold from the bottom will leave you cross-eyed on the upper ramps toward 1847 m. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below it on the sustained sections, saving headroom for the 20.55% spikes where power naturally surges. If you don't know your number, run the FTP estimator before you commit to this climb — guessing here is expensive. The right target is one you can hold for the full 808 m of net gain, not just the first kilometre.

Gearing

With an average of 8.85% and maximum pitches of 20.55%, gearing is not the place to be brave. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections, but on the 20.55% ramps that ratio leaves little margin — you'll be grinding at low cadence and high strain. If your legs or your fitness aren't at their peak, go straight to 34×34: the extra sprocket keeps your cadence spinning and your knees intact across all 9.1 km. Over an 808 m climb, easier gearing is faster gearing, because it keeps you seated and steady.

Summary

Galičica is a genuine test: a category 1 climb that sustains 8.85% over 9.1 km, spikes to 20.55%, and lifts you 808 m from valley to summit. Pace it off your FTP, gear it kindly, and respect the near-constant pitch — the 833 m of total ascent barely relents from bottom to top.

Length: 9.1 km
Average gradient: 8.85%
Max gradient: 20.55%
Start: 1039 m
Summit: 1847 m
Net gain: 808 m
Total ascent: 833 m
Category: 1