Arabakonak

Overview

Arabakonak is a category 2 climb that stretches for 12.8 km, lifting you from a start elevation of 417 m to a summit at 998 m. That is a net elevation gain of 581 m, with 569 m of total ascent once the small undulations along the way are accounted for. The average gradient of 4.54% places this firmly in tempo territory rather than a lung-searing wall, but its length means it rewards patience and punishes anyone who treats the early kilometres as a warm-up sprint. Over nearly 13 km, the road asks a sustained, honest effort.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining trait of Arabakonak is consistency broken by the occasional sting. With an average of 4.54% and a maximum of 8.17%, the climb never flattens into recovery and never truly rears up into a ramp you cannot spin. Because the total ascent of 569 m sits slightly below the net gain of 581 m, the profile is almost entirely uphill with very little false-flat or descent to break rhythm — every metre of forward progress is roughly a metre earned. Expect the steepest 8.17% pitches to arrive as short kicks that interrupt the otherwise metronomic grade, then settle back toward that 4.54% baseline. This is a climb of rhythm, not surges.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steady, the winning strategy is to lock into an effort you can hold for the full 12.8 km. A good target is riding just below your FTP on the sustained sections and allowing yourself to nudge over it only on the brief 8.17% pinches, knowing the gradient will ease afterward. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace — going out too hard on the lower slopes is the classic error here, because there is no flat section to recover on. Break the 581 m of climbing into chunks, drink early, and save a little for the final third where fatigue, not gradient, becomes the limiter.

Gearing

For most riders, a compact setup handles Arabakonak comfortably. A 34×32 gives you enough range to spin the 4.54% average without grinding, and it keeps a workable cadence when the road tips toward 8.17%. If you carry more weight, ride at a lower cadence, or simply want insurance for a long day, step up to a 34×34 — the extra sprocket costs nothing on the mellow sections and buys real relief on the steep kicks late in the 12.8 km. Given the climb's length and steady demand, err toward the easier option; spinning up 581 m of gain is always kinder to the legs than muscling it.

Summary

Arabakonak is a long, rhythmic category 2 climb that suits riders who can settle into a sustainable tempo and hold it. There is no single crux to fear, only 12.8 km of honest, near-continuous ascent that rewards discipline over aggression.

Length: 12.8 km
Average gradient: 4.54%
Max gradient: 8.17%
Start: 417 m
Summit: 998 m
Net gain: 581 m
Total ascent: 569 m
Category: 2