Forcella della Pecora

Overview

Forcella della Pecora is an hors catégorie (HC) climb — the hardest rung on the classification ladder before the numbered categories 1, 2, 3 and 4 begin. Over 14.3 km it drags you from a valley floor at 292 m up to a summit of 1393 m, a net gain of 1101 m. The average gradient sits at a genuinely severe 7.69%, and with a total ascent of 1154 m recorded across the profile, there is barely a metre of recovery to be found. This is a climb defined by its length and its relentlessness rather than any single feature.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 7.69% average, but averages flatten the story. The most alarming statistic here is the max gradient of 34.61% — a wall steep enough that it changes how you approach the entire effort. Because the net gain (1101 m) is 53 m less than the total ascent (1154 m), the road pitches, eases fractionally, then pitches again, meaning you claw back a little elevation that you then have to re-earn. Expect the climb to sit stubbornly around and above its 7.69% mean for long stretches, with the gradient spiking hard toward that 34.61% figure where the road tilts most aggressively. There is no long false-flat to hide on: 14.3 km at this severity asks for honest, sustained power.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long and steep, pacing discipline is everything. Ride the first few kilometres well under your threshold — the 34.61% ramps will punish anyone who arrives at them already in the red. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a 14.3 km HC ascent you'll be working near or just below threshold for a long time, so knowing that number turns guesswork into a plan. If you're unsure of yours, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. On the steepest pitches, prioritise cadence and traction over ego — standing to power over a 34.61% section is sometimes unavoidable, but sitting where you can will preserve your legs for the full 1101 m of climbing ahead.

Gearing

Gear for the wall, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front choice, and the cassette is where you buy your survival. A 34×32 bottom gear is the minimum most riders should consider for a climb that spikes to 34.61%, and many will be far happier with a 34×34, which gives you a true 1:1 ratio to spin up the steepest ramps without grinding your cadence into the ground. On a 14.3 km effort at 7.69% average, the lower gear isn't a luxury — it's what keeps your knees and your morale intact all the way to 1393 m.

Summary

Forcella della Pecora is a proper HC test: long, steep, and unforgiving, with a max gradient that puts it in rare company. Come with honest pacing, low gearing, and respect for all 1101 m of vertical, and you'll reach the 1393 m summit having earned every metre.

Length: 14.3 km
Average gradient: 7.69%
Max gradient: 34.61%
Start: 292 m
Summit: 1393 m
Net gain: 1101 m
Total ascent: 1154 m
Category: HC