Passo Ciola

Overview

Passo Ciola is a compact but serious category-2 climb, packing real difficulty into a modest 6.6 km. From a start elevation of 111 m it rises to a summit at 555 m, giving a net gain of 444 m over its length. The average gradient of 6.71% already tells you this is no gentle drag, and with a total ascent of 451 m recorded across the profile, the road barely relents from bottom to top. It is the kind of ascent that rewards riders who arrive with a plan and punishes those who go out too hard.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the average of 6.71%, but averages hide the story. With a maximum gradient of 12.33%, Passo Ciola stacks its steepest pitches well above the mean, meaning there are ramps that nearly double the effort of the easier sections. Because the net gain of 444 m and the total ascent of 451 m sit only 7 m apart, there is almost no descending or flat respite once you begin — the road climbs, and keeps climbing. Expect the gradient to pulse between sustainable stretches near the average and sharp kicks that surge toward that 12.33% ceiling. Those spikes are where the climb is won or lost.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride Passo Ciola is by effort, not ego. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: on the sections near the 6.71% average, settle into a rhythm you can hold to the summit; when the road bites toward 12.33%, allow your power to rise briefly rather than blowing your effort trying to keep speed constant. At 6.6 km the climb is short enough to push a touch above threshold, but long enough that overcooking the first kilometre will cost you dearly on the steepest ramps higher up. If you are unsure of your threshold number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your target zones. Ride the average, absorb the spikes, and save a little for the top.

Gearing

For a 6.6 km climb averaging 6.71% with pitches to 12.33%, gearing generously is never a mistake. A compact chainring paired with a 34×32 is the sensible baseline for most fit riders, giving you a comfortable cadence through the sustained sections. If you know you fade on steep ramps, or you are carrying fatigue, step up to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket keeps your legs spinning when the gradient surges toward its maximum. The goal is to protect your cadence on the hardest pitches so you never grind to a walking-pace slog. When in doubt, take the easier gear.

Summary

Passo Ciola is a short, honest, consistently steep category-2 climb that punches above its length. Respect the 12.33% spikes, pace off your threshold, and gear low enough to keep spinning.

Length: 6.6 km
Average gradient: 6.71%
Max gradient: 12.33%
Start: 111 m
Summit: 555 m
Net gain: 444 m
Total ascent: 451 m
Category: 2