Forzelon de Rava

Overview

Forzelon de Rava is one of those climbs that reads like a dare on paper and feels like one under the wheels. Over 16 km it drags you from a start elevation of 324 m to a summit of 2056 m — a net gain of 1732 m — at an average gradient of 10.85%. That average alone is enough to mark it as hors catégorie (HC), the hardest rung on the classification ladder above categories 1, 2, 3, and 4. There is no soft version of this road. The total ascent registers 1715 m, meaning almost every metre of the climb points relentlessly upward with barely a breath of false flat to recover on.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number here is not the average but the maximum: 32.27%. A ramp that steep is beyond what most riders will ever pedal on tarmac, and it tells you the road does not politely average its way to 10.85% — it spikes hard. Expect long stretches sitting well into double figures, punctuated by pitches that force you out of the saddle whether you planned to stand or not.

Because the net gain (1732 m) exceeds the total ascent (1715 m), the profile is essentially all up, with any downhill or level relief adding up to a negligible sliver of the 16 km. Treat every kilometre as climbing time. The lower slopes off 324 m set the tone, and the gradient never truly relents on the march to 2056 m.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this long, pacing is everything. Aim to hold a steady, sustainable effort rather than chasing the wheels ahead of you — the ramps toward 32.27% will punish anyone who spent their matches early. A useful anchor is your FTP: on Forzelon de Rava you want to sit at or just below threshold for the shallower sections and accept that the steepest pitches will briefly push you over, because the road leaves you no gearing choice.

If you are unsure of your threshold before tackling all 16 km, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first and build your climbing plan around a realistic sustainable power. With 1732 m of vertical to absorb, small pacing errors compound into a walk.

Gearing

Do not underestimate the gearing required. For a 16 km climb averaging 10.85% with ramps to 32.27%, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible minimum. A 34×32 will get most fit riders to the summit, but on the steepest pitches you will be grinding at very low cadence with nothing left in reserve. If your legs or your loaded weight give you any doubt, fit a 34×34 (or lower) so you keep a workable cadence when the road tips toward 32.27%. On a climb this steep, spinning a lower gear is faster and far less costly than mashing an over-geared one to a standstill.

Summary

Forzelon de Rava is a genuine HC test: 16 km of near-continuous climbing, an average gradient that would headline most sportives, and a maximum pitch few roads dare to build. Respect the pacing, bring the gearing, and the 2056 m summit is yours.

Length: 16 km
Average gradient: 10.85%
Max gradient: 32.27%
Start: 324 m
Summit: 2056 m
Net gain: 1732 m
Total ascent: 1715 m
Category: HC