Passo Gallinera

Overview

Passo Gallinera is a hors catégorie (HC) climb that packs a brutal amount of vertical into very little distance. Over just 6.8 km it averages a punishing 16.29% gradient, dragging you from a start elevation of 686 m up to a 1800 m summit. That is 1114 m of net elevation gain in under seven kilometres, with a total ascent of 1082 m once the small dips and rolls are counted. On paper the numbers look like a typo; on the road they feel exactly as steep as they read. This is not a climb you settle into — it is one you survive.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 16.29% average is already extreme, but averages hide the story. To pull the mean that high, long stretches must sit well above it, and the 28.97% max gradient confirms that this climb has ramps steep enough to stall a rider mid-pedal-stroke. Expect the road to pitch up relentlessly, with the cruelest sections nearly doubling the average. Because the summit sits 1114 m above the base across only 6.8 km, there is almost no flat and almost no recovery — the gradient rarely gives back what it takes. Treat every ramp toward that 28.97% ceiling as a discrete effort rather than part of a rhythm you can hold.

Pacing Notes

On a wall this steep, pacing is everything. Ride the opening kilometre too hard and the back half of the 6.8 km will unravel you. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on gradients pushing toward 28.97%, you will spend long spells above threshold whether you like it or not, so the goal is to limit how far and how often you drift over. If you do not know your number, run our FTP estimator before you commit to Gallinera, then hold the steepest ramps just under the point where your legs seize. With 1114 m to climb, a controlled, sustainable burn beats a heroic start every time.

Gearing

Gear for the worst pitch, not the average. A 16.29% average with a 28.97% max means most standard road setups will leave you grinding at unsustainable torque. A 34×32 is the bare minimum here, and honestly the smart choice for most riders is a 34×34 or easier to keep your cadence turning on the steepest ramps. On a climb this short but this severe, spinning a low gear preserves your legs far better than muscling a bigger one. If your bike can take a wider cassette, fit it before you tackle the full 1114 m of ascent — you will not regret the extra range.

Summary

Passo Gallinera is one of the purest tests of steepness a cyclist can face: 6.8 km, 16.29% average, and a 28.97% max that demands respect from the base at 686 m to the 1800 m summit. Pace it patiently, gear it generously, and let the 1114 m of climbing come to you.

Length: 6.8 km
Average gradient: 16.29%
Max gradient: 28.97%
Start: 686 m
Summit: 1800 m
Net gain: 1114 m
Total ascent: 1082 m
Category: HC