Madonna del Ghisallo: Cycling Climb

The climb · Italy

About Madonna del Ghisallo

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From Bellagio, the road to the Madonna del Ghisallo leaves Lake Como behind with an opening that demands your attention. The first kilometres are steep enough to make conversation intermittent and gear choice immediate. This is a compact climb, but the easy-looking average tells only part of its story.

In the middle, the road relents. A flatter stretch and a little descending let your breathing settle, creating a distinct pause between the harder sections. Then the gradient returns on the approach to Magreglio. Having enjoyed that respite, you have to adjust to climbing again; the last bends make the arrival at the sanctuary particularly welcome.

Stop beside the small church and neighbouring cycling museum. Inside the sanctuary, the bicycles and jerseys give this hill a significance that no gradient figure can convey. The climb earns the visit, but the place itself is the reason to linger: a meeting point for the sport's history and the ordinary rider who has just come up from the lake.

01 / The ascent

Elevation profile

Start 277 m · Summit 750 m

Gradient by distance8.55 km / 525 m gain

0 km1.7 km3.3 km5 km6.7 km8.3 km

02 / The crux

Where it gets difficult

Choose a distance to find the steepest continuous section of the climb.

Steepest 500 m average

11.3%

Where to find it

0.60–1.10 km from start

Net height gained: 56 m
Section length: 500 m

The whole climb8.32 km

0 kmFinish

03 / The numbers

Climb statistics

Distance: 8.55 km
Elevation gain: 525 m
Average gradient: 7.5%
Climb category: 2
Start elevation: 277 m
Summit elevation: 750 m

Current weather

At the climb start

Loading weather…

Weather data: MET Norway

04 / Your effort

How long would it take?

Enter the power you could hold for the whole climb. We calculate a moving time from the elevation profile and the forces you ride against.

Sustained power

W/kg

Use your intended climbing effort, rather than FTP unless you can hold it for the predicted duration.

Rider weight (kg)

Bike + kit weight (kg)

Bike + kit includes clothing, bottles and luggage.

Advanced settings

Defaults represent a road-bike scenario. Adjust these settings to match your tyres, drivetrain and riding position.

Effective drag area (CdA) (m²)

Rolling resistance (Crr)

Drivetrain efficiency (%)

Modelled moving time

37 min

Power throughout: 225 W
Average speed: 13.5 km/h

Based on the 8.32 km elevation profile. Assumes steady power, with no stops, braking or drafting. Rounded to the nearest minute.

The science behind the calculation

For each part of the stored profile, we solve the steady-state cycling power equation for speed, then add distance ÷ speed across the climb. Gravity uses rider + equipment weight; available power is W/kg × rider weight. This uses the profile’s distance and elevation together, without mixing in another route’s metrics.

Power × efficiency = gravity + rolling resistance + air resistance + bearing losses

The resistance equations are adapted from Martin et al. (1998), Validation of a Mathematical Model for Road Cycling Power. Air density changes with profile altitude using NASA’s standard-atmosphere model. This calculator’s adaptation has not been independently validated.

It predicts travel at the power you enter, including on descents. It does not model acceleration, cornering, braking, traffic, wind, changing weather or fatigue. At altitude, choose power you can sustain there: thinner air reduces drag, but this model does not predict its effect on your ability to produce power. Profile quality and assumed equipment settings also affect the result.

05 / On the ground