Okraj

Overview

Okraj is a long, honest category 2 climb in the Czech Republic that rewards patience over punch. Over 11.3 km it climbs at an average gradient of 5.55%, carrying you from a start elevation of 448 m up to a summit at 1076 m. That works out to a net elevation gain of 628 m, with the recorded total ascent of 605 m telling you the road pitches upward almost the entire way, with very little relief rolling back downhill. The maximum gradient tops out at 9.66%, so nothing here is genuinely brutal, but the sheer duration is what defines the effort. This is a climb you settle into rather than attack.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number is the gap between the 5.55% average and the 9.66% maximum. A little over four percentage points of spread means the slope is remarkably consistent — there are no wall-like ramps waiting to blow your legs apart, but neither are there long flat sections to recover on. Expect the road to sit around and just above the average for most of its 11.3 km, with occasional stiffer pitches nudging toward that 9.66% ceiling. Because the total ascent of 605 m sits so close to the 628 m net gain, you can trust that almost every metre of the climb is spent going up. The lack of false flats and descents means your effort stays continuous from the 448 m base all the way to the 1076 m top.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The single biggest mistake riders make on Okraj is starting too hard on the lower slopes and paying for it across the back half of the 11.3 km. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power. Riding just below or right at your FTP is the smart target for a climb that will likely take the better part of an hour. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then hold that ceiling steady rather than surging on every ramp toward 9.66%. Save a small reserve for the steeper pitches near the top, where fatigue and thinner air around 1076 m start to bite.

Gearing

With 628 m to gain over a sustained 5.55% average, gearing is about cadence preservation, not survival. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low is enough for most fit riders to spin comfortably below the 9.66% maximum without grinding. If you tend to climb at a higher cadence, are carrying luggage, or simply want insurance for the final steeper metres, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your legs turning smoothly deep into the 11.3 km, which matters far more on a long climb than on a short, sharp one.

Summary

Okraj is a classic tempo climb: long, steady, and fair. Meter your effort from the 448 m base, respect the 11.3 km distance, and the 1076 m summit comes to those who hold a rhythm rather than chase it.

Length: 11.3 km
Average gradient: 5.55%
Max gradient: 9.66%
Start: 448 m
Summit: 1076 m
Net gain: 628 m
Total ascent: 605 m
Category: 2