Broghol

Overview

Broghol is a compact category 3 climb that packs a genuine punch despite its short 2.8 km length. From a start elevation of 3297 m, the road lifts you to a summit of 3474 m, a net gain of 177 m over ground that never quite lets you settle. The headline average of 6.3% tells only part of the story: with a max gradient of 7.69%, this is a climb of consistent, moderately steep effort rather than one defined by a single savage wall. At these elevations, thin air adds an invisible tax to every pedal stroke, so the numbers on the profile understate how the legs and lungs will feel.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is honest and readable. Over 2.8 km the gradient hovers around its 6.3% average, and the spread between that average and the 7.69% maximum is only about 1.4 percentage points. That tight band means there are no false flats to recover on and no brutal spikes to survive — instead, a sustained pull that rewards rhythm. The 177 m of net gain against a total ascent of 146 m confirms the profile trends upward almost the entire way, with only minor easing. Expect the steepest pitches to cluster where the road tips toward that 7.69% figure, likely in the middle third, before the grade holds firm to the line.

Pacing Notes

Because Broghol is short and steady, it is best ridden as a controlled threshold effort rather than a series of surges. Aim to hold a wattage just below or right at your FTP for the roughly 2.8 km duration — the consistency of the 6.3% average makes it easy to lock into one gear and one cadence and simply grind it out. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle it, then subtract a small margin for the altitude, since the 3297 m to 3474 m elevation band will blunt your usual power. Start conservatively; the 177 m of climbing arrives quickly and there is no long summit push to save legs for.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 6.3% and peaking at 7.69%, most riders will be comfortable on a compact setup. A 34×32 lowest gear gives you enough range to spin the steeper 7.69% ramps without grinding, and it keeps cadence high across the steady 6.3% sections. If you carry extra weight, ride at these thin-air elevations regularly, or simply prefer to save your legs, a 34×34 offers welcome insurance and lets you sit and turn the pedals rather than stand. Either choice works well over just 2.8 km — the key is protecting cadence so you never bog down on the pitches near the maximum.

Summary

Broghol is a short, honest category 3 test: 2.8 km of steady 6.3% climbing with a manageable 7.69% ceiling, all set high enough that the altitude does the extra damage. Ride it at threshold, gear appropriately, and it becomes a satisfying tempo effort rather than a sufferfest.

Length: 2.8 km
Average gradient: 6.3%
Max gradient: 7.69%
Start: 3297 m
Summit: 3474 m
Net gain: 177 m
Total ascent: 146 m
Category: 3