Passo della Ritorta

Overview

Passo della Ritorta is a long, patient climb that rewards riders who know how to hold a rhythm. Over its full 23.3 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 401 m to a summit of 1447 m, a net gain of 1046 m. The average gradient reads a modest 4.49%, but that headline figure hides the truth of the day: this is a Category 1 effort, and category ratings weigh length and difficulty together, not just the mean slope. Nearly an hour of continuous climbing for most riders makes Ritorta a test of durability far more than raw power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not be lulled by the 4.49% average. On a climb this long, that number is a blend of gentle drags, false flats, and genuinely steep pitches. The total ascent of 1054 m sits just 8 m above the net gain of 1046 m, which tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly upward with very little descending or flat relief to break the effort. The defining moment is the maximum gradient of 15.81% — a ramp more than three times steeper than the average. A pitch that severe on a climb averaging under 5% means the easier sections must be very shallow indeed to pull the mean back down. Expect the slope to swing repeatedly between soft-pedalling stretches and sharp, standing-effort kicks.

Pacing Notes

The key to Ritorta is discipline. With 23.3 km to cover, going into the red early will cost you dearly over the back half. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below threshold on the sustained sections, saving your matches for the steep ramps toward the maximum of 15.81%. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle a climb of this magnitude. On the shallow 4.49%-and-below stretches, keep the power steady rather than surging — momentum is cheap here, and every watt you waste on a false flat is a watt gone from the 1046 m of climbing still ahead.

Gearing

Length plus that 15.81% spike is the argument for easy gearing. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders enough range to spin the shallow majority of the 23.3 km without over-torquing. But for the steepest ramps — and to protect your legs late in a 1046 m ascent — a 34×34 is the smarter insurance. The extra sprocket costs you nothing on the flatter drags and buys precious cadence when the road bites. If you can fit it, run the 34×34 and thank yourself near the summit at 1447 m.

Summary

Passo della Ritorta is a long-haul Category 1 climb defined by its patience-testing 23.3 km and a single ferocious 15.81% ramp punctuating an otherwise steady 4.49%. Gear low, pace to threshold, and respect the full 1046 m before you attack.

Length: 23.3 km
Average gradient: 4.49%
Max gradient: 15.81%
Start: 401 m
Summit: 1447 m
Net gain: 1046 m
Total ascent: 1054 m
Category: 1