Daegwallyeong

Overview

Daegwallyeong is a long, steady category 2 climb that rewards patience over punch. It runs 17.7 km from a low start at just 14 m all the way up to a summit at 843 m, giving a net elevation gain of 829 m. The average gradient sits at 4.68%, which puts it firmly in the "sustained tempo" bracket rather than the wall-and-recover category. With a total ascent of 815 m recorded over its length, this is a climb defined by its distance and consistency: nearly eighteen kilometres of pointing your bike uphill and settling into a rhythm you can hold.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 4.68% average, most of Daegwallyeong sits in a comfortable-but-relentless band where the road never lets you fully coast. The headline figure to respect is the 10.08% maximum gradient, more than double the average. That tells you the climb is not perfectly even: expect stretches that dip toward flatter, restful percentages balanced against ramps that pitch up toward that double-digit peak. The gap between a 4.68% mean and a 10.08% spike is where the climb bites, so read the road ahead and anticipate the steeper sections before they arrive. Over 17.7 km the accumulated work adds up to 815 m of climbing, and it is the sheer length, not any single ramp, that ultimately sets the difficulty.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline early is everything. Aim to ride the 4.68% average sections at a controlled tempo you could sustain for the full 17.7 km, holding something in reserve for the pitches approaching 10.08%. A useful anchor is your FTP: treat the sustained portions as a percentage of that threshold and let the steep ramps push you briefly above it, knowing the flatter stretches let you recover. If you are not sure of your number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan your effort. The classic mistake here is burning matches in the first few kilometres and paying for it near the 843 m summit. Start conservative, and the climb comes to you.

Gearing

With 829 m of net gain spread across a long climb and ramps reaching 10.08%, gearing for cadence rather than grinding pays off. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. For riders with strong sustained power, a 34×32 will cover the steeper pitches while keeping you spinning through the 4.68% average sections. If you prefer to protect your legs over 17.7 km, or you are carrying fatigue, step up to a 34×34 for extra insurance on the double-digit ramps. Either setup lets you keep the pedals turning smoothly all the way to 843 m rather than mashing a gear that is too big.

Summary

Daegwallyeong is a distance climb, not a wall: 17.7 km of steady work with just enough steepness near 10.08% to keep you honest. Pace it evenly, gear for spinning, and let the consistent 4.68% do the work.

Length: 17.7 km
Average gradient: 4.68%
Max gradient: 10.08%
Start: 14 m
Summit: 843 m
Net gain: 829 m
Total ascent: 815 m
Category: 2