Kamir pass

Overview

Kamir pass is a long, high-altitude category 2 climb that trades brute-force ramps for relentless distance. Over 25 km the road lifts you from a start elevation of 1436 m to a summit of 2184 m, a net gain of 748 m. The average gradient is a modest-sounding 3%, but at these numbers the arithmetic tells the real story: this is an endurance climb where the altitude and the length do the damage, not the pitch. With a total ascent of 723 m across the full 25 km, most of your time is spent turning a comfortable-looking slope into a slow, cumulative effort in thinning air.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not be lulled by the 3% average. A 748 m net gain over 25 km means long shallow stretches must be balanced somewhere by steeper pitches, and Kamir pass hides its teeth in a maximum gradient of 10.12%. Expect a climb that breathes: sections where the road barely tilts and you can hold a strong tempo, interrupted by short kicks that spike toward double digits before easing again. Because the total ascent of 723 m sits just below the 748 m net gain, there is very little false-flat descending along the way — nearly every metre you climb stays climbed, so the effort accumulates in one direction from base to summit.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and treat the shallow 3% sections as your baseline rhythm rather than a chance to attack. Save headroom for the 10.12% pinches — let power surge briefly there, then settle straight back to a sustainable tempo instead of chasing the pace you lost. Across 25 km at 2184 m, going too hard early is punished twice: once by the altitude, once by the sheer remaining distance. If you are unsure what wattage to hold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you set off so your target zone reflects your current form rather than a guess.

Gearing

The 3% average will not force your hand, but the 10.12% max and the fatigue of a 748 m ascent make a wide cassette worth carrying. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is a sensible default and will spin most riders comfortably up the steeper kicks without grinding. If you tend to climb at a lower cadence, run tired late in long days, or simply want insurance for the final ramps near 2184 m, drop to a 34×34 for extra margin. Both give you a bailout gear on the double-digit sections while leaving plenty of range for the long shallow stretches.

Summary

Kamir pass rewards patience: a steady 3% canvas stretched over 25 km, with a lone 10.12% signature and 748 m of altitude to conquer. Pace it by feel and power, gear it generously, and let the distance — not the gradient — define the ride.

Length: 25 km
Average gradient: 3%
Max gradient: 10.12%
Start: 1436 m
Summit: 2184 m
Net gain: 748 m
Total ascent: 723 m
Category: 2