Duivelskop

Overview

Duivelskop is a Category 2 climb in South Africa, running 15.1 km from base to summit. It starts at 275 m and tops out at 985 m, for a net elevation gain of 710 m. On paper that reads as a long, moderate ascent — the kind of climb you settle into rather than attack — with an average gradient of 4.7% spread across its full length.

The average is only half the story. While the net gain is 710 m, the total ascent over the climb is 1,074 m. That 364 m gap means the road doesn't climb cleanly: it gives back roughly a third of its vertical in descents and dips that you then have to re-climb. Undulation of this size changes the effort. You'll be repeatedly breaking rhythm, accelerating out of low points, and paying an energy tax that a smooth 4.7% grade would never charge.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.7% average hides both easier terrain and sharp ramps. With this much undulation, expect the gradient to swing well above and below the mean rather than holding steady. The steepest recorded pitch touches 20.09%, so there is at least one wall here that will spike your effort far beyond what the average suggests.

• Flatter and descending sections that offer recovery — but also cost you the elevation you'll re-climb
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, each one resetting your rhythm
• A steepest ramp near 20% that demands your lowest gear and a deliberate seated effort

Pacing Notes

On a smooth climb you'd hold even effort and let speed vary. Duivelskop's undulation makes that harder: the descents tempt you to coast and the re-climbs tempt you to surge. Aim for even effort, not even speed. Keep your sustainable power output as your ceiling on the steep pitches and resist burning matches to hold a number on the ramps — you have 15.1 km and 1,074 m of climbing to account for.

Carry a little speed into the dips rather than braking, then meter your power back on as the road tilts up. If you don't know your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace.

Gearing

The 20% maximum ramp governs your setup. Gear for the steepest pitch, not the average. A compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — 34×32 or 34×34 — gives you the low end to stay seated and spinning where the road bites. Check your drivetrain before the ride: confirm the cassette range and that the rear derailleur handles it cleanly. Running out of gears on a 20% wall is a fast way to blow up.

Summary

• Length: 15.1 km
• Average gradient: 4.7%
• Maximum gradient: 20.09%
• Net elevation gain: 710 m
• Total ascent: 1,074 m
• Category: 2

Duivelskop rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace to effort, gear for the steep ramp, and treat the 1,074 m of total ascent — not the 710 m net — as the real workload.