Fusha Pass

Overview

Fusha Pass is a short, savage Category 1 climb that packs a genuine punch into just 6.2 km. There is no easing-in here: the road averages 10.5% from bottom to top, which puts it firmly in the tier of climbs that most riders remember by the burn in their legs rather than the view. Over that distance you gain 656 m in elevation, rising from a start at 938 m to a summit at 1594 m, with a recorded total ascent of 629 m across the rolling detail of the road.

For a climb barely longer than 6 km, a 10.5% average is uncompromising. There is nowhere to hide, no flat kilometre to recover, and a maximum pitch of 16.62% waiting to break your rhythm. It is the kind of ascent that rewards restraint early and punishes anyone who treats the first ramp as the whole story.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the math and the shape becomes clear. A 10.5% average across 6.2 km means the climbing almost never relents. With a maximum of 16.62%, the steepest sections sit roughly 6 percentage points above the average, so the hardest ramps are noticeably crueler than the baseline effort you are already grinding out.

Because net gain (656 m) sits slightly above the total ascent figure (629 m), you can expect the road to climb relentlessly with very little in the way of false-flat relief. Treat every pitch above 12% as a moment to protect your cadence rather than chase it.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is everything. The temptation is to attack the lower slopes; resist it. A sensible target is to sit just under your FTP for the opening two-thirds, then allow yourself to drift over threshold only on the final ramps once the summit at 1594 m is within reach.

If you are unsure of your threshold power, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a plan. Knowing that figure turns a 6.2 km guessing game into a controlled effort, and on a 10.5% average, going 10 watts too hard early will cost you far more than 10 watts saved.

Gearing

This is a climb that demands compact gearing and honest self-assessment. A 34×32 setup is the sensible minimum here: at 10.5% average with pitches of 16.62%, a 34×32 will keep most trained riders spinning rather than lurching.

If you know your climbing legs, or you simply prefer to protect your knees on a 656 m grind, size up to 34×34. The extra sprocket buys you cadence exactly where the road tips toward its 16.62% maximum, and on a Cat 1 wall this steep, spare gears are never wasted.

Summary

Fusha Pass is a compact, relentless test: 6.2 km that never lets up, a 10.5% average that defines the whole effort, and a 16.62% maximum that stings on the hardest ramps. Pace it with discipline, gear it generously, and the 656 m to the summit will feel like a fair fight rather than an ambush.

Length: 6.2 km
Average gradient: 10.5%
Max gradient: 16.62%
Start: 938 m
Summit: 1594 m
Net gain: 656 m
Total ascent: 629 m
Category: 1