Conor Pass

Conor Pass cycling climb profile

Conor Pass is a category 2 climb in Ireland that asks for steady pressure rather than repeated surges. The climb runs for 6.9 km, starting at 11 m and topping out at 399 m, with 388 m of net elevation gain. The average gradient is 5.66%, while the maximum gradient is 7.58%.

That relationship between the average and maximum gradient is the key to understanding how to ride it. The hardest recorded pitch is only modestly above the overall average, so this is not a climb defined by brutal ramps or big changes in rhythm. Instead, the challenge is accumulation. A 5.66% average over 6.9 km is long enough to punish early overpacing, especially if the rider treats the opening kilometres like a short hill rather than a sustained climb.

How the gradient unfolds

From bottom to summit, Conor Pass gains height consistently from 11 m to 399 m. With a maximum gradient of 7.58%, the profile points toward a climb where the main tactical problem is maintaining output while the road stays persistently uphill. There is no evidence in the supplied profile of double-digit gradients, so the limiting factor is less about surviving a single steep wall and more about keeping the pedals loaded without drifting above threshold too often.

The 6.9 km length matters. At this distance, small pacing errors have time to compound. Going too hard in the first half can leave you stuck riding the final kilometres below target power, even if the gradients never become extreme. The smarter approach is to ride the early section with restraint, let the effort settle, and only lift the pace once the summit effort is clearly under control.

Pacing and gearing notes

For most riders, Conor Pass is best ridden as a controlled tempo to threshold effort, depending on fitness and conditions. If using power, anchor the early effort below your sustainable climbing ceiling and avoid chasing speed when the gradient rises toward the 7.58% maximum. A climb like this rewards smooth execution more than aggression. If you need a reference point, use your tested FTP as the ceiling rather than the target for the opening kilometres.

Gearing should allow a comfortable cadence on mid single-digit gradients with room for the steeper sections. Because the maximum gradient is 7.58%, the climb does not demand emergency gearing for extreme pitches, but under-gearing still creates a problem: it forces torque up, raises muscular fatigue, and makes steady pacing harder. Choose a ratio that lets you stay seated for most of the climb and respond to the steeper moments without spiking effort.

The cleanest way to ride Conor Pass is simple: start controlled, stay aerobic for as long as possible, and only commit fully near the top. The profile is not savage on paper, but its steadiness means there are few places to hide from a poor pacing decision.