Klis

Overview

Klis is a category 3 ascent that packs a surprising amount of variety into 5.7 km. On paper it reads as gentle: an average gradient of 4.46% and a net elevation gain of 252 m, climbing from a start elevation of 105 m to a summit at 357 m. That average, though, hides the real character of the climb. With a max gradient of 11.51%, Klis is not a metronomic drag — it is a road that leans on you in bursts, then eases off just enough to let you recover before the next pull. The total ascent of 242 m sits slightly below the net gain, telling you the road climbs almost continuously in one direction, with very little in the way of descending false-flat to break the rhythm.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The single most important number to understand here is the gap between the 4.46% average and the 11.51% maximum. That spread of just over 7 percentage points defines the climb. A 4.46% average is a gradient most riders can hold in the saddle for a long time, but the steep ramp — reaching 11.51% — is more than double that. Expect the road to be built around a few sharper pitches stitched together by shallower connecting sections. When you hit a ramp near the maximum, your speed will drop sharply and your power will spike; when the gradient relaxes back toward and below the average, you get a genuine chance to reset. Riding Klis well is about not overreacting to the steep bits: they are short relative to the full 5.7 km, and the shallower ground rewards patience.

Pacing Notes

For a climb of this length and shape, aim to ride the shallow sections at a controlled tempo and simply survive the ramps without blowing up. A sensible target is to keep your average effort near or just below your FTP, letting the steep pitches push you briefly above it and using the easier gradients to bring your average back down. Over 5.7 km with 252 m to gain, going too hard early on the first ramp will cost you far more time than a steady, repeatable effort. If you are unsure where your threshold actually sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before your next attempt so you are pacing to real data rather than guesswork.

Gearing

Klis does not demand extreme gearing, but the 11.51% max gradient means you want a bailout. A compact chainset paired with a 34×32 lowest gear will get most riders up the steep ramps while keeping a workable cadence. If you climb at a lower cadence, run heavier, or simply want to spin the ramps rather than grind them, a 34×34 is the smarter choice and costs you nothing on the shallower average-gradient sections. Either setup handles the 4.46% average comfortably; the deciding factor is how you want to feel when the road kicks toward its maximum.

Summary

Klis is a well-rounded category 3 climb: long enough to matter, steep enough in places to hurt, and forgiving enough on average to reward smart pacing over raw power. Ride the ramps conservatively, recover on the shallow ground, and pick gearing that leaves you a gear in hand for the 11.51% pitches.

Length: 5.7 km
Average gradient: 4.46%
Max gradient: 11.51%
Start: 105 m
Summit: 357 m
Net gain: 252 m
Total ascent: 242 m
Category: 3