Goderdzi Pass

Overview

Goderdzi Pass is a genuine hors catégorie effort: 22.9 km of continuous climbing that lifts you from 742 m at the base to a 2162 m summit. That is 1420 m of net elevation gain, and because the road dips and rolls on the way up, your legs actually absorb 1479 m of total ascent — an extra 59 m of climbing hidden in the reversals. Average it all out and you get 6.2%, a number that sounds civil until you meet the pitches that spike to 22.85%. This is a long, sustained climb where patience matters more than punch.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.2% average across 22.9 km tells only half the story. The gap between the 6.2% mean and the 22.85% maximum is enormous — more than 16 percentage points — which means the climb is far from a metronome. Expect long stretches that sit near or just under the average, punctuated by short, savage ramps that briefly triple the effort. The 59 m difference between net gain (1420 m) and total ascent (1479 m) confirms there are false flats and small descents woven in, so you will occasionally recover, then pay it back with interest. Treat the steep pitches as isolated events to survive, not as the rhythm of the whole climb.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, the enemy is your own enthusiasm in the first few kilometres. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to spend most of the 22.9 km slightly below threshold, leaving headroom for the 22.85% ramps where power spikes are unavoidable. If you do not know your threshold number, use the FTP estimator to set a realistic ceiling before you start. A good mental model: ride the sustained 6.2% sections at a controlled tempo, then accept a brief surge on the steep pitches and settle straight back down. With 1420 m to gain, a steady effort that you can hold for the full ascent beats a fast start that blows apart with kilometres still to climb.

Gearing

For an HC climb averaging 6.2% with ramps to 22.85%, gear low and gear early. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 32-tooth cassette sprocket (34×32) is the sensible minimum, and it will carry you up the sustained sections without grinding. But on the steepest pitches near 22.85%, 34×32 can leave you mashing at low cadence, so if your derailleur allows it, fit a 34×34. The extra range keeps your cadence spinning on the worst ramps and protects your legs over the full 22.9 km. Given the total ascent of 1479 m, the lighter gear pays dividends the longer you are on the mountain.

Summary

Goderdzi Pass rewards riders who respect its length and its spikes. Meter your effort, gear low, and the 6.2% average becomes manageable even as the 22.85% ramps bite. It is a complete HC test of endurance and composure.

Length: 22.9 km
Average gradient: 6.2%
Max gradient: 22.85%
Start: 742 m
Summit: 2162 m
Net gain: 1420 m
Total ascent: 1479 m
Category: HC