Popova Šapka

Overview

Popova Šapka is a short, sharp category 3 climb that rewards riders who respect its steepness. Over just 2.3 km it lifts you from 468 m at the base to 631 m at the summit, a net gain of 163 m. The average gradient of 7.1% already tells you this is no gentle drag, and with pitches touching 12.07% it demands focused effort from the first pedal stroke to the last.

At category 3, this climb sits toward the friendlier end of the scale — well below the hors catégorie monsters and the long category 1 and 2 ascents — but its brevity is deceptive. There is nowhere to hide on a 2.3 km wall averaging over 7%, and the total ascent of 146 m is packed into a tight window that keeps your power output high throughout.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number here is the relationship between the 7.1% average and the 12.07% maximum. That gap of just under 5 percentage points signals a climb with real texture: stretches that hover near the average punctuated by ramps that force you out of rhythm. With 163 m of net gain across 2.3 km, the road tilts up consistently, but the max pitch of 12.07% is where the climb bites hardest.

Expect the steepest section to sit well above the average, so if you find yourself grinding at 12%, you are on the crux, not the norm. Once past it, the gradient eases back toward that 7.1% mean, and the summit at 631 m arrives quickly. The difference between the 163 m net gain and the 146 m total ascent is small, confirming this is an almost uninterrupted upward effort with little respite.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this short, pacing is about not overcooking the opening. At 7.1% average across 2.3 km, a steady sustainable effort just at or slightly above your threshold is ideal. Anchor your intensity to your FTP: riding the bulk of the climb near threshold leaves headroom to absorb the 12.07% ramp without blowing up.

If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before your next attempt. Then hold that ceiling steady, save a small match for the steepest pitch, and roll over the top at 631 m before the effort ever tips into the red for good.

Gearing

For a 2.3 km climb averaging 7.1% with a 12.07% maximum, gearing choice comes down to cadence protection on that top ramp. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette handles this well. A 34×32 gives most fit riders enough spin to keep cadence up through the steeper sections while staying efficient near the 7.1% average.

If you tend to grind, prefer a higher cadence, or are carrying fatigue into the climb, size up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket makes the 12.07% pitch far more manageable and keeps your knees happy without costing you anything on the flatter approaches.

Summary

Popova Šapka is a concise, honest test: 2.3 km of climbing that never really lets up, capped by a genuine steep pitch. Pace it near threshold, gear for the ramp, and the 631 m summit comes fast.

Length: 2.3 km
Average gradient: 7.1%
Max gradient: 12.07%
Start: 468 m
Summit: 631 m
Net gain: 163 m
Total ascent: 146 m
Category: 3