Dolon Pass

Overview

Dolon Pass is a long, high-altitude Category 2 climb that unspools over 16.2 km and lifts you from a start elevation of 2276 m to a summit at 3026 m. The headline number is a net elevation gain of 750 m, with a total ascent of 730 m once the minor rolling relief along the way is accounted for. The average gradient of 4.63% reads gentle on paper, but it is the kind of gradient that hides its teeth: sustained, thin-air effort rather than a single wall. With a maximum gradient of 9.19%, the hardest ramps are firm without ever tipping into the brutal, which makes this a climb about rhythm and patience more than raw power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.63% average is the story of the whole 16.2 km, but almost no stretch of a climb this long actually sits on its mean. Expect the road to breathe between shallow drags and steeper kicks, with the sharpest pitches reaching that 9.19% ceiling. The gap between the 4.63% average and the 9.19% max — roughly 4.56 percentage points — tells you the climb is uneven rather than metronomic. That means the smart move is to treat the flatter sections as recovery and save something for the ramps, because at these altitudes every steep pitch costs more than the number suggests. Starting already above 2276 m and topping out at 3026 m, the air thins as you climb, so the final kilometres will feel harder than the same gradient lower down.

Pacing Notes

Over 16.2 km, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a Category 2 climb of this length, riding just under threshold on the shallow sections and letting the 9.19% ramps nudge you briefly over is a sustainable pattern. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the day. Altitude compounds fatigue as you approach 3026 m, so bank a small reserve for the top rather than emptying it early. The 750 m of climbing arrives gradually, and a steady pace that respects the thin air will carry you further than surging.

Gearing

For a 16.2 km climb averaging 4.63% with pitches to 9.19% at altitude, favour a compact setup with plenty of range. A 34×32 is enough for most riders to spin the steeper ramps without grinding, but if you tend to pedal a lower cadence or you are carrying fatigue from the elevation, a 34×34 gives you welcome margin on the 9.19% sections. Given the length and the thinning air near 3026 m, err toward the easier cassette — you will use it.

Summary

Dolon Pass rewards a patient, threshold-aware ride: a long, steady Category 2 ascent where altitude, not gradient, is the real opponent.

Length: 16.2 km
Average gradient: 4.63%
Max gradient: 9.19%
Start: 2276 m
Summit: 3026 m
Net gain: 750 m
Total ascent: 730 m
Category: 2