Duran Pass

Overview

Duran Pass is a category 1 climb that asks for a genuine investment of time and patience. Over 19.4 km the road lifts you from a valley floor at 454 m to a summit at 1611 m — a net gain of 1157 m at an average gradient of 5.97%. That average is deceptively civil: a max gradient of 12.38% lurks somewhere in the middle, and the total ascent of 1126 m confirms this is very nearly a pure, uninterrupted drag with almost no false descents to break the effort. At almost 20 km, this is an endurance climb first and a power climb second.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Read the numbers and the shape becomes clear. With a net gain of 1157 m and a total ascent of 1126 m, the difference between the two is small — only 31 m of that climbing is "given back" through flatter or descending sections. In practice that means the road tilts up and simply stays there. The 5.97% average is a fair working number for most of the ascent, but the 12.38% max tells you there is at least one ramp roughly twice as steep as the mean. Expect the gradient to hover in a manageable single-digit band for long stretches, then punch upward without much warning. The final metres to 1611 m are where accumulated fatigue, not raw steepness, becomes the real opponent.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and treat the first several kilometres as a controlled tempo rather than a race. A climb of 19.4 km will likely take well over an hour for many riders, so pacing at or just below threshold is the sustainable move — surge on the 12.38% ramp and you will pay for it before 1611 m. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you start, then hold that ceiling honestly. Save a small reserve for the upper slopes, where the 5.97% average keeps grinding away at legs that are already 1000-plus metres deep into the effort.

Gearing

Gear for the length, not just the average. With sustained pitches near 5.97% and a 12.38% max arriving mid-climb, a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible choice. A 34×32 will get most fit riders over the top, but on a 19.4 km ascent gaining 1157 m, the extra insurance of a 34×34 is well worth it — that lowest ratio lets you spin the steep ramp instead of grinding it, preserving your legs for the long haul to 1611 m. If your bike can take it, err toward the easier end.

Summary

Duran Pass is a long, honest category 1 climb: steady enough to settle into, steep enough in places to punish overconfidence. Pace it to your threshold, gear for endurance, and let the 19.4 km come to you.

Length: 19.4 km
Average gradient: 5.97%
Max gradient: 12.38%
Start: 454 m
Summit: 1611 m
Net gain: 1157 m
Total ascent: 1126 m
Category: 1