Prislop Pass

Overview

Prislop Pass is a long, honest Category 2 climb that rewards patience over punch. Over 17.3 km you gain 692 m of net elevation, starting at 713 m and topping out at 1405 m. The average gradient sits at a steady 4%, and the road never bites harder than a 5.82% maximum — numbers that describe a climb defined by its length rather than its steepness. Total ascent comes in at 676 m, so this is a near-continuous drag upward with very little coasting to break the rhythm.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story here is consistency. With a 4% average and a maximum of only 5.82%, the gradient band is remarkably narrow — the road rarely strays more than a couple of points either side of its mean. That means there are no wall-like ramps to blow your legs apart and no long descents to steal your momentum. The gap between the 692 m net gain and the 676 m total ascent is tiny, confirming that almost every metre of the 17.3 km tilts upward. Expect a climb that feels metronomic: you settle into a gradient and hold it, kilometre after kilometre, as the elevation ticks steadily from 713 m toward the 1405 m summit.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this uniform, pacing is everything. Because the gradient barely changes, your power output should barely change either — pick an effort you can sustain for the full 17.3 km and lock into it. A useful anchor is your FTP: most riders will want to sit just below threshold on a sustained Category 2 effort of this duration, leaving headroom for the top third. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your target. The 5.82% max is where you'll be tempted to surge — resist it. Those pinches are short relative to the whole, and burning matches on them buys nothing on a climb whose difficulty comes from its 692 m of accumulated gain, not any single ramp.

Gearing

With a 4% average and a 5.82% ceiling, Prislop Pass doesn't demand ultra-low gearing, but its 17.3 km length makes a comfortable spinning ratio worth having. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sweet spot. A 34×32 will keep most fit riders spinning happily on the steeper pinches, while a 34×34 buys extra insurance for tired legs late in the climb or for those carrying touring loads. Either setup lets you protect your cadence across all 676 m of ascent rather than grinding at low RPM — the smarter choice on a climb this sustained.

Summary

Prislop Pass is a climb for riders who like a steady, sustainable effort. There are no surprises in the gradient, no dramatic ramps — just 17.3 km of consistent 4% climbing that adds up to a solid 692 m of net gain. Pace it evenly, gear it comfortably, and let the metronome do the work.

Length: 17.3 km
Average gradient: 4%
Max gradient: 5.82%
Start: 713 m
Summit: 1405 m
Net gain: 692 m
Total ascent: 676 m
Category: 2