- Ascent
- 1062 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 12.7 km
- max. gradient
- 16 %
- ø gradient
- 8.4 %
The Passo di Fedaia from Caprile is an HC climb of 12.7 km with 1,062 m of elevation gain at an average of 8.4 %, peaking at 16 %. The road climbs via Malga Ciapela to the Fedaia reservoir below the Marmolada at 2,057 m and drops on the far side to Canazei. The hardest part is a block of around 11 % in the upper half, the last two kilometres are gentle.
Epic Climbs: Black Edition DIN A1 poster
Bucket-List Print: Passo di Fedaia
The Passo di Fedaia climbs from the Agordino up to the reservoir below the Marmolada. From Caprile it is 12.7 kilometres and 1,062 metres of climbing up to 2,057 metres. At 8.4 % on average only one Dolomites climb in our list is steeper. The real hardness lies in one long block in the upper half.
The Passo di Fedaia at a glance
The key figures from Caprile: category HC, 12.7 km, 1,062 m of climbing, 8.4 % on average and 16 % at its steepest. The road climbs via Malga Ciapela to the pass at the Fedaia reservoir at 2,057 m. On the west side it runs down to Canazei. In our list the Fedaia belongs to the Dolomites region.
The climb from Caprile
The first kilometres are moderate, with the gradient swinging between 4 and 7 %. Then comes a first taste of what is ahead: one kilometre above 11 %, followed by a calmer one at just under 5 %. Anyone already riding at the limit here is in trouble, because the hardest part is still to come.
From about seven to two kilometres below the pass lies the key section: five kilometres averaging close to 11 %, none of them below 9.5 %. There is no break in this block. Only the last two kilometres up to the reservoir are clearly gentler. Once you are through the block, the rest is almost a roll to the top.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
At 8.4 % only the Tre Cime di Lavaredo are steeper among the Dolomites climbs in our list, across all 100 only 15 climbs are. The 16 % peak, too, is only topped by the Tre Cime in the Dolomites. With 1,062 m of climbing the Fedaia sits in the middle, 64 climbs have more. The Passo Duran is built in a similar way at 8.2 %, it also keeps its hard block for the upper half.
Practical tips
For the steep block a compact chainset with a large sprocket is strongly recommended. Ride the first kilometres calmly and save your strength for the upper half. At 2,057 m it is cool even in summer, so bring a jacket for the descent. On the west side you drop to Canazei, where the Passo Sella also comes down, and the way back to Caprile is the same road.
