Cunninghams Gap

Overview

Cunninghams Gap is a Category 3 climb in Australia, running 22.1 km from base to summit. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 637 m, starting at 106 m and topping out at 743 m. On paper this is a long, moderate ascent — the kind of climb where the length, not the steepness, is the headline number.

But net gain tells only part of the story. The total ascent along the route is 949 m, which is 312 m more than the net figure. That gap is undulation: the road repeatedly climbs, gives back elevation, then climbs again. You will pay for those 312 extra metres of vertical even though they do not show up in the start-to-summit difference. Treat this as a climb with more work in it than the average gradient suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 2.88% average is a blend, not a description of what you ride. With a maximum gradient of 18.6% recorded on the route, the road clearly has pitches far steeper than the mean, offset by flat or descending sections that drag the average down.

Expect the profile to break down roughly like this:

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or even drops, letting you spin and reset before the next effort.
• Repeated short climbs — the source of the 312 m of extra ascent beyond net gain — that stack up over 22.1 km.
• A steepest ramp reaching 18.6%, where gradient, not distance, sets the pace and your gearing gets tested.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort pacing beats even-speed pacing. Chasing a constant speed forces you to surge on every rise and coast on every dip, spiking your cost on the steep pitches. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain.

That means easing slightly on the flatter and downhill stretches rather than hammering to keep the number up, and staying disciplined on the ramps toward 18.6% so you do not blow the budget on a single kicker. If you do not know your ceiling yet, run the FTP estimator before you go and pace off that figure.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your gearing, and 18.6% is steep enough to demand generous ratios. Fit a compact (34-tooth) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you the room to keep cadence up on the sharpest ramp without grinding to a stall.

Check your setup before the ride. Confirm the cassette and rear derailleur can actually handle your largest sprocket; discovering you are undergeared on an 18.6% pitch is not the place to find out.

Summary

• Length: 22.1 km
• Average gradient: 2.88%
• Maximum gradient: 18.6%
• Net elevation gain: 637 m
• Total ascent: 949 m
• Category: 3

Cunninghams Gap rewards patience and honest pacing. Ride to power, gear for the steepest pitch, and respect the extra 312 m of ascent the profile hides, and the length becomes manageable rather than punishing.