Sella di Rocca Pumacciolo

Overview

Sella di Rocca Pumacciolo is an HC climb — hors catégorie, the hardest rating on the scale — and the numbers explain why. Over 17.5 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 117 m to a summit of 1688 m, a net gain of 1571 m. That is a sustained 8.96% average gradient held across the entire ascent, not a spike buried in a mostly flat road. The total ascent of 1552 m confirms there is barely any respite: almost every metre of the climb is uphill, with only the tiniest give-back along the way.

This is a big-mountain effort. Roughly 17.5 km at nearly 9% is the kind of climb that decides a hard ride, and it demands both a well-managed effort and appropriate gearing to reach the top with something left.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency. With an 8.96% average and a total ascent (1552 m) that sits just below the net gain (1571 m), the road climbs almost continuously — there is very little descending or flat to break the rhythm. Expect long stretches hovering right around that 9% average, where the gradient rarely dips low enough to let you recover.

Because the climb starts low at 117 m and tops out at 1688 m, you also gain over 1500 m of altitude in one push. The upper reaches will feel harder simply because you have already been climbing for a long time when you get there. Treat the whole 17.5 km as one continuous test rather than a series of separate ramps.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long and this steep, pacing discipline matters more than raw power. A climb of 17.5 km at 8.96% will take most riders well over an hour, so the effort you can hold is closely tied to your FTP. Ride the lower slopes conservatively — the temptation to push early is punished hard over 1571 m of gain.

If you are unsure of your sustainable power, use the FTP estimator to get a working number, then aim to sit just below threshold for the bulk of the climb. Keep a small reserve for the final kilometres near the 1688 m summit, where accumulated fatigue bites hardest.

Gearing

At an 8.96% average sustained for 17.5 km, gear low and gear early. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline: a 34×32 is the minimum most riders will want here, and it will feel marginal deep into the climb. If you have the option, 34×34 gives you meaningful extra headroom to keep your cadence up and protect your legs across the full 1552 m of ascent. Fresh legs may cope with 34×32, but on a climb this relentless, the lower ratio is rarely regretted.

Summary

Sella di Rocca Pumacciolo is a genuine HC test: long, steep, and unforgiving from 117 m all the way to 1688 m. Pace it with respect, gear it low, and treat the whole 17.5 km as one sustained effort.

Length: 17.5 km
Average gradient: 8.96%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 117 m
Summit: 1688 m
Net gain: 1571 m
Total ascent: 1552 m
Category: HC