Jubilee Pass

Overview

Jubilee Pass is a category 3 climb in the US, running 11 km from a start elevation of -6 m below sea level up to a summit of 405 m. The net elevation gain across that distance is 411 m, so the road trends upward the whole way but at a moderate overall pitch rather than a wall. As a mid-category climb, it sits in the range where a rider can settle into a rhythm without the sustained severity of a first-category effort.

The number to watch is the gap between net elevation gain and total ascent. You gain 411 m net, but you actually climb 465 m of vertical over the ride — a difference of 54 m. That means the road gives back roughly 54 m of descent along the way, and every metre it drops has to be re-climbed. This is an undulating profile, not a clean one-way grind, and undulation always costs more than the net number suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 3.74% average gradient is an honest figure for the whole 11 km, but it hides the shape. With a maximum gradient of 9.59%, the steepest ramps are more than twice the average, so the climb is a mix of easy running punctuated by sharper efforts rather than a uniform slope.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases well below the average, giving you a chance to reset.
• Short descents that account for the 54 m of give-back — brief, but they break your rhythm.
• Repeated short climbs that follow those dips, each one asking you to re-accelerate.
• The steepest ramp at 9.59%, where you will need to shift down and manage your effort deliberately.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Hold a steady, sustainable power output through the flatter sections and the 9.59% ramps alike — let your speed rise on the easy grades and fall on the steep ones rather than forcing a constant pace. Surging to hold speed up every short climb will burn matches you cannot get back over 11 km. Use the FTP estimator to anchor your target number, then ride the whole profile just under it, allowing the short descents to be genuine recovery.

Gearing

The 9.59% maximum gradient governs your setup. A compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette such as 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low gear to spin the steepest ramps without grinding. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride — confirm the actual teeth you have, not what you assume — so you are not caught over-geared on the 9.59% pitch.

Summary

• Length: 11 km
• Average gradient: 3.74%
• Maximum gradient: 9.59%
• Net elevation gain: 411 m
• Total ascent: 465 m
• Category: 3

Jubilee Pass rewards riders who respect the 54 m of hidden re-climbing. Pace by effort, gear for the 9.59% ramps, and the moderate 3.74% average will work in your favour rather than against you.