Makaza

Overview

Makaza is a category 2 climb that rewards patience over explosive power. Across 12.2 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 123 m to a summit of 763 m, a net gain of 640 m. The recorded total ascent of 635 m tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly, with only fractional dips interrupting the upward march. At an average of 5.26% it sits in that deceptive middle band: not steep enough to force a crawl from the base, but long enough that early enthusiasm gets punished. The defining number, though, is the 12.85% maximum. Somewhere on this ascent the road bares its teeth, and knowing that ramp is coming shapes how you ride everything before it.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 5.26% average and the 12.85% peak is the whole story of Makaza. A perfectly even 5.26% for 12.2 km would be a pleasant tempo effort; instead the gradient breathes. Expect stretches that sit comfortably below the average, where you can settle into rhythm and recover, punctuated by pitches that climb well into double digits. Because net gain (640 m) sits so close to total ascent (635 m), there is barely any false flat or descent to coast on. Every metre you lose on a brief shallow section has to be reclaimed on the next ramp. Treat the average as a budget, not a promise, and hold something back for the 12.85% wall.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride a 12.2 km climb this uneven is to pace off your sustainable power rather than the gradient in front of you. Aim to hold a percentage of your FTP that you know you can defend for the full ascent, then let the steep pitches push you briefly above it and the shallow sections pull you back under. Over 640 m of climbing, a rider who starts 20 watts too hot will unravel long before the summit at 763 m. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target and set a ceiling you refuse to exceed on the lower slopes.

Gearing

With a maximum of 12.85% arriving inside a 12.2 km effort, gearing is your insurance policy. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 low is the sensible baseline for most riders, giving you a spin-friendly ratio that survives the steep ramps without wrecking your legs. If you climb at a naturally low cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want margin on that 12.85% pitch, step up to 34×34. The extra sprocket costs you nothing on the shallower 5.26%-average sections and buys real breathing room when the road bites.

Summary

Makaza is a long, honest category 2 climb where the 5.26% average hides a 12.85% sting. Pace it off your threshold, gear low, and respect the 640 m you have to earn from bottom to top.

Length: 12.2 km
Average gradient: 5.26%
Max gradient: 12.85%
Start: 123 m
Summit: 763 m
Net gain: 640 m
Total ascent: 635 m
Category: 2