Futa Pass

Overview

Futa Pass is a category 2 climb that rewards patience over punch. Across 19.6 km it lifts you from 201 m at the base to 903 m at the summit, a net gain of 702 m. The average gradient reads a modest 3.57%, which on paper suggests a rolling tempo effort rather than a wall. But the total ascent of 747 m — meaningfully more than the net 702 m — tells the real story: the road dips and recovers along the way, so you are actually climbing more than the elevation profile's endpoints imply.

This is a long climb, and its difficulty lives in duration and rhythm rather than in raw steepness. Only in isolated moments does the gradient show its teeth, pitching up to a maximum of 10.99%.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between average and maximum gradient is the key to reading Futa Pass. A 3.57% average over 19.6 km is squarely in the seated, sustainable range — the kind of slope you can hold at threshold for a long time. Yet the 10.99% maximum means there are pitches roughly three times steeper than the average scattered along the route.

Because the total ascent (747 m) exceeds the net gain (702 m) by 45 m, expect the climb to give a little back. Short descents or flatter shelves break up the effort, then you re-climb what you lost. These transitions are where riders lose rhythm: you accelerate on the false flats, then get caught out when the road tilts back toward that near-11% ceiling. Treat the whole 19.6 km as one continuous effort rather than a series of separate hills, and the profile becomes far more manageable.

Pacing Notes

For a climb this long, pacing is everything. The steady 3.57% average makes Futa Pass an ideal effort to ride just at or slightly below your threshold. Anchor your target power to your FTP and hold a controlled tempo through the flatter sections rather than surging. Save a small reserve for the ramps toward the 10.99% maximum — those are the only places you should let power spike, and even then briefly.

If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so your pacing plan is built on real data rather than a guess. Over nearly 20 km, a pace even a few percent too hot early will cost you far more than it gains.

Gearing

Given the 19.6 km length and a maximum gradient of 10.99%, prioritise a wide-range cassette over a big chainring. A compact crankset paired with a 34×32 low gear will handle most of the climb comfortably, letting you spin the steady 3.57% grades without grinding. For the steepest pitches near 10.99% — especially late in the climb when your legs are deep into that 702 m of gain — a 34×34 gives valuable extra insurance and lets you keep a high cadence. If your setup allows, 34×34 is the safer choice for tired legs on a climb of this duration.

Summary

Futa Pass is a long, rhythm-driven category 2 climb: gentle on average, but demanding through its length and its steepest ramps. Pace it to your threshold, gear low, and respect the extra ascent hidden in the profile.

Length: 19.6 km
Average gradient: 3.57%
Max gradient: 10.99%
Start: 201 m
Summit: 903 m
Net gain: 702 m
Total ascent: 747 m
Category: 2