De Beer's Pass

Overview

De Beer's Pass is a Category 3 road climb in South Africa, running 5.7 km from base to summit. It gains 289 m of net elevation, starting at 1,263 m and topping out at 1,552 m. That places the whole effort at altitude, where thinner air trims the power you can put down even before the gradient does its work.

The climb records 309 m of total ascent against only 289 m of net gain. That 20 m gap tells you the road doesn't rise in a clean line — there are dips and false flats where you give back height you already earned, then climb it a second time. The mismatch is small, but it means your legs do slightly more vertical work than the summit-minus-base figure suggests, and it changes how the effort feels on the road.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.06% average is an honest number for a Category 3 climb, but averages flatten the story. With a maximum gradient of 12.1%, the road pitches to more than double its mean in at least one place, and the 20 m of extra ascent confirms the profile isn't uniform. Expect the grade to move around rather than settle.

• Flatter or recovery sections where the road eases and briefly gives back height
• Repeated short rises that punch above the average before backing off
• A steepest ramp at 12.1%, the pitch that will dictate your gearing choice

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Hold a steady sustainable power output through the steep pitches and let your speed climb on the flatter recovery sections rather than surging to hold a fixed pace. Surging over each short rise burns matches you'll want later at altitude.

Know your number before you start. Use the FTP estimator to set a ceiling, then ride the 12.1% ramp a touch under it so the recovery sections genuinely recover you.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your setup. At 12.1%, a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette will keep your cadence honest — think 34×32 or 34×34 so you can spin the steep ramp instead of grinding it. At 1,552 m, low gears matter more than usual because you can't muscle through with reduced oxygen.

Check your chainset and cassette before the ride. Confirming your lowest gear beforehand is cheaper than discovering it mid-ramp.

Summary

• Length: 5.7 km
• Average gradient: 5.06%
• Maximum gradient: 12.1%
• Net elevation gain: 289 m
• Total ascent: 309 m
• Category: 3

De Beer's Pass is a manageable Category 3 effort that rewards discipline over aggression. Pace it by effort, gear it for the 12.1% ramp, and respect the altitude, and the 289 m to the summit will come steadily.