Pagozelaiko lepoa

Overview

Pagozelaiko lepoa is a 12 km climb that rises from 273 m at its foot to a summit of 885 m, delivering 612 m of net elevation gain along the way. The category-2 rating tells you most of what you need to know before you turn a pedal: this is a serious, sustained effort, but one that sits below the truly savage HC and Cat 1 monsters. The headline average of 5.09% sounds friendly, and for long stretches it genuinely is — but that number hides a spikier reality, with pitches that ramp all the way to 12.65%. It is the kind of climb where a steady rhythm pays off far more than early enthusiasm.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Twelve kilometres at 5.09% is a long, honest grind, but the gap between the 5.09% average and the 12.65% maximum is the story here. That spread of more than seven points means the road does not hold a single tidy angle — it breathes. Expect gentler ramps where you can settle and recover, punctuated by sharper kicks where the gradient more than doubles the average and forces you out of the saddle or down a couple of cogs. The total ascent of 615 m runs just 3 m above the 612 m net gain, which tells you the profile climbs almost relentlessly upward with barely any flat or downhill relief to break the effort. There is nowhere to truly coast; the climbing is near-continuous from base to summit.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride Pagozelaiko lepoa is to anchor your effort to your sustainable power rather than the terrain in front of you. Hold an intensity you can carry for the full 12 km, and treat the 12.65% pinches as brief over-thresholds rather than places to attack. If you know your FTP, aim to sit just under it on the shallower sections and allow short, controlled surges above it on the steepest ramps, so the average balances out over 612 m of climbing. Riders who go into the red early on the first steep pitch almost always pay for it in the final kilometres. Not sure of your number? Run the FTP estimator first, then build your target around it before the climb even starts.

Gearing

With ramps hitting 12.65%, gearing is where comfort is won or lost. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the sensible starting point. Paired with a 34×32, most trained riders will spin the steep sections without grinding to a crawl, keeping cadence high across the full 12 km. If you are carrying luggage, riding tired, or simply prefer to twiddle, step up to a 34×34 for that extra margin on the 12.65% pitches. The lower ratio costs nothing on the gentle 5.09% stretches and buys real insurance where the road bites hardest.

Summary

Pagozelaiko lepoa is a rewarding, sustained category-2 climb: long enough to demand pacing, steep enough in places to demand gearing, and consistent enough to reward a disciplined tempo. Respect the 12.65% ramps, protect your legs early, and the 612 m of gain to the summit will feel like a well-earned prize rather than a punishment.

Length: 12 km
Average gradient: 5.09%
Max gradient: 12.65%
Start: 273 m
Summit: 885 m
Net gain: 612 m
Total ascent: 615 m
Category: 2