Kanegasaka Pass

Overview

Kanegasaka Pass is a Category 1 climb in Japan, covering 6 km from a start elevation of 270 m to a summit at 777 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 507 m, which is the difference between where you clip in and where you crest. At an average gradient of 8.43%, this is a serious sustained effort — long enough to matter, steep enough to hurt, and short enough that you cannot hide in a comfortable rhythm.

The number to watch is the gap between the net gain of 507 m and the total ascent of 625 m. That 118 m difference means the climb does not rise cleanly; you gain and give back elevation along the way through dips and false flats. In practical terms, you do more vertical work than the net figure suggests, and every descended metre must be re-climbed. Undulation like this breaks momentum and forces repeated re-accelerations, taxing the legs more than a uniform grade of the same net gain.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 8.43% average is a summary, not a description. It blends flatter recovery zones with ramps far steeper than the mean, so pacing to the average number will leave you either overcooked on the steep sections or coasting on the shallow ones. The 118 m of extra ascent tells you the profile is choppy rather than smooth.

• Expect shallower or recovery sections where the grade drops well below the average — use these to soft-pedal and reset breathing.
• Anticipate repeated short climbs stacked between the dips, each demanding a fresh surge of effort.
• Save headroom for the steepest ramp, which sits well above the 8.43% mean and will spike your power sharply.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Holding a constant pace forces you to over-power the steep ramps and waste energy on the shallow parts. Instead, hold a steady, sustainable power output and let your speed fluctuate with the grade — faster on the flatter sections, slower on the walls.

Know your ceiling before you start. Use the FTP estimator to establish your sustainable power output, then ride the ramps just under it so the repeated re-accelerations across the 118 m of undulation do not push you into the red early.

Gearing

The steep ramps on Kanegasaka Pass govern your gearing choice, not the average. For a Category 1 climb at 8.43% with pitches well beyond it, run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you the cadence to spin the steepest sections rather than grind them. Check your setup before the ride; discovering you are under-geared on the first wall is a mistake you cannot fix mid-climb.

Summary

• Length: 6 km
• Average gradient: 8.43%
• Net elevation gain: 507 m
• Total ascent: 625 m
• Category: 1

Kanegasaka Pass rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace to power, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the 625 m of total ascent — not just the net 507 m — as the real workload of the day.