Forca di Penne cycling climb profile
Forca di Penne is a category 2 climb in Italy that looks manageable on paper, but still asks for disciplined execution. The climb runs for 14.7 km, rising from 229 m to 920 m, with 691 m of net elevation gain. Its average gradient is 4.71%, while the maximum gradient is 7.44%.
That combination matters. This is not a climb defined by savage ramps. It is a long, aerobic effort where the damage comes from duration and from small pacing errors that accumulate over nearly 15 km. The average gradient sits low enough that strong riders may be tempted to ride it like an extended tempo road rather than a real climb. That is the mistake. A category 2 ascent at this length still requires restraint.
How the gradient unfolds
The supplied profile does not include kilometre-by-kilometre gradient splits, so the responsible read has to come from the relationship between the average and maximum gradients. With an average of 4.71% and a maximum of 7.44%, Forca di Penne appears to be a climb with a moderate overall pitch and no extreme wall-like section in the available data.
The steepest gradients are only a limited step above the average, which suggests the ride feel is likely more controlled than chaotic. You should expect the climb to ask for steady pressure rather than repeated emergency shifts into survival mode. The key is that a 7.44% maximum still bites differently after sustained climbing, especially if you have treated the lower slopes too casually.
Pacing strategy
The best approach is to ride Forca di Penne as a long threshold-adjacent effort, not as a series of attacks. If you know your /glossary/ftp, anchor the early part below your ceiling and let the effort build gradually. If you do not, use perceived exertion: the opening should feel almost too controlled, because the climb is long enough to punish enthusiasm.
On a climb with this average gradient, speed can remain deceptively high compared with steeper mountain roads. That makes it easy to chase momentum and drift above sustainable power. The better tactic is to hold back just enough that the steepest pitches near 7.44% do not force a major cadence drop or an abrupt power spike.
Gearing notes
You do not need gearing for extreme gradients, but you do need enough range to stay smooth when the road approaches its maximum pitch. The right setup is one that lets you remain seated, keep cadence under control, and avoid grinding during the hardest sections.
Forca di Penne rewards riders who can keep a consistent aerobic load over 14.7 km. It is not a pure climber's wall, and it is not a short punch. It is a measured category 2 climb where the smartest rider is usually the one who spends the least energy correcting early mistakes.