Meaga

Overview

Meaga is a short, concentrated climb that packs its work into just 3 km. Over that distance the road rises from a near-sea-level start at 15 m to a summit of 237 m, a net gain of 222 m. That equation alone tells you what to expect: an average gradient of 7.5% with no long flat sections to hide behind. Officially a category-3 ascent, it sits toward the friendlier end of the scale — well below the 1s and hors-catégorie monsters — but its brevity means the effort is compressed rather than diluted. You are on and off it quickly, and that changes how you ride it.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline numbers frame the shape neatly. A 7.5% average across 3 km is already a firm, sustained pitch, and the 9.54% maximum shows the road does bite harder in places. The gap between average and max here is modest — roughly two points of gradient — which signals a climb that is more consistent than lumpy. There are no savage double-digit ramps to survive, but equally there is no genuine respite. Note too that the recorded total ascent of 192 m is a touch below the 222 m net gain, meaning the profile trends upward almost the entire way with little in the way of downhill giveback. Expect to settle into a rhythm early and hold it, because the gradient rarely lets you coast.

Pacing Notes

With a climb this short, the temptation is to attack from the base. Resist it. At 7.5% for 3 km, going out too hard leaves you drowning well before the 237 m summit. Aim to ride the middle of the climb just under your threshold, then release whatever is left in the final ramps where the gradient nudges toward its 9.54% max. Knowing your FTP makes this call far easier: it tells you the power you can hold and the power that will blow you up. If you have not pinned that number down, run the FTP estimator first and pace off it. On a climb of this length, holding steady at the right intensity beats any heroic early surge.

Gearing

Because Meaga is short, most riders can muscle up it on tighter gearing than a longer climb of the same 7.5% pitch would demand — but comfort still pays off when the road touches 9.54%. A compact chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is a sensible baseline for fit climbers who want to stay seated and spinning through the steeper metres. If you prefer to protect your legs, or you are carrying fatigue from earlier climbing, a 34×34 gives you that extra bailout cog and keeps your cadence up when the gradient peaks. Either setup handles the 222 m of climbing cleanly; the choice comes down to how much margin you want at the top.

Summary

Meaga rewards riders who respect its steepness despite its short length. Pace it just under threshold, save a little for the steepest pitches, and pick gearing that lets you spin rather than grind. Do that and this 3 km wall becomes a satisfying, repeatable effort.

Length: 3 km
Average gradient: 7.5%
Max gradient: 9.54%
Start: 15 m
Summit: 237 m
Net gain: 222 m
Total ascent: 192 m
Category: 3