Satus Pass

Overview

Satus Pass is a Category 3 climb in the United States, running 6.2 km from a start elevation of 656 m to a summit at 957 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 301 m over the ascent, with an average gradient of 4.87% — the sort of steady, mid-length effort that rewards a rider who settles into a rhythm rather than attacking it.

The number that matters most, though, is the mismatch between net gain and total ascent. The climb gains 301 m in net terms but records 416 m of total ascent, meaning roughly 115 m of that vertical is descending mixed back in along the way. This is an undulating road, not a uniform ramp. You will pay for those extra metres twice: once climbing them, and again in the momentum you lose each time the gradient drops away.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.87% average is a blend, not a constant. Because the profile rolls, stretches sit well below average while the hard pitches spike well above it — the steepest ramp reaches 11.85%. Averages flatten that story, so ride the road in front of you, not the summary number.

• Flatter and false-flat sections where you can recover and eat, offset by the descents baked into the total ascent
• Repeated short climbs that break the effort into pulses rather than one sustained grind
• A steepest ramp of 11.85% that demands you hold something in reserve

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Hold a steady sustainable power output through the rollers rather than surging to keep your speed constant — surging on every rise burns matches you will want at the 11.85% ramp. Let speed rise on the flatter and descending sections and fall on the pitches, keeping your power band tight throughout. If you do not know your numbers, run the FTP estimator first and pace to a percentage of that figure across the whole 6.2 km.

Gearing

The gearing decision here is governed by the steepest gradient, not the average. At 11.85%, a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette keeps your cadence out of the red — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a bailout for the steepest ramp while staying efficient on the gentler majority. Check your setup before the ride; discovering you are over-geared at the bottom of an 11.85% pitch is not the place to find out.

Summary

• Length: 6.2 km
• Average gradient: 4.87%
• Maximum gradient: 11.85%
• Net elevation gain: 301 m
• Total ascent: 416 m
• Category: 3

Satus Pass is a manageable Category 3 with a sting in the undulation: 416 m of climbing to gain 301 m of net height. Pace to power, gear for the 11.85% ramp, and let the rollers work for you rather than against you.