Passo dello Sceriffo

Overview

Passo dello Sceriffo is a category 1 climb that asks a genuine question of your legs. Over 10.9 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 67 m to a summit at 732 m, a net gain of 665 m at an average gradient of 6.11%. That average is the kind of number that reads as "steady" on paper but plays out as relentless in the saddle: there is enough length here that you cannot bluff your way up on adrenaline, and enough pitch that you can never fully switch off. With a max gradient of 16.21%, the climb also keeps a sharp edge in reserve.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figures tell a story of two forces pulling against each other. The average sits at 6.11%, but the maximum spikes to 16.21% — more than ten percentage points above the mean. A climb with that gap is rarely uniform. Expect the road to trade shallower, recoverable ramps against steeper walls where the gradient nearly triples the average. The total ascent of 650 m sits just under the 665 m net gain, which tells you the road climbs almost continuously rather than surrendering height along the way. There are few, if any, descents to break the rhythm; what you gain, you keep. Plan for the 16.21% pitch to arrive when your legs are already loaded, and treat every easier section as a chance to bank composure before the next kick.

Pacing Notes

The smart way to ride a 10.9 km climb like this is to anchor your effort to your FTP rather than to how you feel in the first kilometre. At 6.11% average, a rider holding a sustainable percentage of threshold will carve minutes off a rider who surges early and blows apart on the 16.21% ramp. If you do not know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you go — it turns guesswork into a target. The discipline is simple: on the shallower sections, hold your power; on the steep pitches, let cadence drop and power rise briefly rather than accelerating. With 665 m of climbing to absorb, patience early is what leaves you something for the summit at 732 m.

Gearing

For a category 1 climb averaging 6.11% and spiking to 16.21%, gear for the steep, not the average. A 34×32 is the sensible baseline for most fit riders here — it gives you a low enough ratio to spin the mid-climb ramps without grinding to a standstill. If you are carrying fatigue, riding at altitude, or simply prefer to keep your cadence high across all 10.9 km, step down to a 34×34. That extra sprocket is cheap insurance against the 16.21% wall, and it lets you protect your knees over the full 665 m of gain. There is no prize for over-gearing.

Summary

Passo dello Sceriffo rewards riders who respect the numbers: a long, honest category 1 effort with a steep sting and no real rest. Pace it to threshold, gear it for the ramps, and the 732 m summit comes to you.

Length 10.9 km
Average gradient 6.11%
Max gradient 16.21%
Start 67 m
Summit 732 m
Net gain 665 m
Total ascent 650 m
Category 1