Passo del Giogo

Overview

Passo del Giogo is a 13 km category 2 climb that starts at 199 m and tops out at 883 m, a summit that puts a real day in your legs without tipping into the suffering of an HC monster. The headline number is an average gradient of 5.25%, which reads as approachable on paper, but the average hides a maximum pitch of 13.27% — more than double the mean. Over its full length the road gains 684 m of net elevation, with 671 m of that logged as total ascent. That small gap between net gain and total ascent tells you the climb is almost relentlessly upward: there is very little false-flat or descending to give the numbers back.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape of Passo del Giogo is defined by the spread between its 5.25% average and its 13.27% peak. A climb that averages 5.25% but touches 13.27% is not a metronome — it breathes. Expect long stretches sitting comfortably below the average, where you can hold a rhythm, punctuated by ramps that bite hard toward that maximum. Because 671 m of the 684 m net gain comes as actual ascent, you are rarely coasting; the elevation profile trends up almost the entire 13 km. The practical read: don't let the modest average lull you into burning matches early, because the steepest 13.27% sections are where a poorly rationed effort unravels.

Pacing Notes

Treat Passo del Giogo as a sustained tempo effort with surges. With 13 km to cover and 684 m to climb, your best defence is a power ceiling you can hold for the full duration. Pace the flatter, sub-average sections just under your FTP, then allow controlled spikes above it on the pitches climbing toward 13.27% — but keep those surges short so they don't blow your average clean out. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. On a climb averaging 5.25%, a steady rider who respects the 13.27% ramps will almost always beat one who attacks the lower slopes and detonates near the 883 m top.

Gearing

For a 13 km climb averaging 5.25% with ramps to 13.27%, you want gearing that lets you spin rather than grind. A compact 34-tooth inner ring paired with a 34×32 cassette combination covers most riders comfortably on the sustained sections and keeps cadence honest on the average grade. If you climb light on the pedals, prefer a lower cadence, or plan to ride Passo del Giogo on tired legs, size up to 34×34 for a genuine bailout on the steepest 13.27% pitches. The extra range costs you almost nothing on the flatter stretches and buys real insurance where the road kicks up.

Summary

Passo del Giogo rewards patience: a 13 km category 2 ascent that trends up almost continuously from 199 m to 883 m, averaging a manageable 5.25% but hiding a 13.27% sting. Pace it as tempo with disciplined surges, gear low enough to spin, and the 684 m of climbing comes to you.

Length: 13 km
Average gradient: 5.25%
Max gradient: 13.27%
Start: 199 m
Summit: 883 m
Net gain: 684 m
Total ascent: 671 m
Category: 2