Siyuan Pass

Overview

Siyuan Pass is a category 1 climb that asks a full, honest effort from anyone who points a wheel uphill toward it. Over 15.9 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 949 m to a summit at 1962 m, a net gain of 1013 m. The average gradient sits at 6.37%, which is the kind of number that sounds moderate on paper and feels anything but once the road tilts up and refuses to relent. This is a long, sustained ascent rather than a short punch, and its character is defined by consistency: hardly any of it lets you coast, and the parts that do simply store up the effort for later.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining trait of Siyuan Pass is how evenly it distributes its work. With a 6.37% average stretched across 15.9 km, most of the climb hovers within a stride or two of that figure, giving it a rhythmic, metronomic feel. The steepest recorded pitch reaches 11.32%, so nearly double the average, and those ramps are where the climb bites. Because the total ascent of 986 m is slightly less than the 1013 m net gain, the profile is almost purely upward — there are essentially no descents or false flats giving back elevation, just a steady, grinding rise. Expect to settle into a gear early and hold it, with the harder ramps forcing brief surges before the grade eases back toward its average.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long and this steady, pacing is everything. The trap is starting too hard on the lower slopes where the legs feel fresh, then paying for it when the 11.32% sections arrive. Ride the first third comfortably below your FTP, treating the 6.37% average as your baseline effort and saving matches for the steep ramps rather than spending them on the gentler stretches.

If you do not know your threshold, use the FTP estimator to set a realistic ceiling before you go. Aim to keep your effort just under threshold on the sustained sections, allowing it to drift up only briefly when the gradient spikes. With 1013 m to climb, discipline in the opening kilometres is what leaves you something for the summit at 1962 m.

Gearing

For a 15.9 km climb averaging 6.37% with ramps to 11.32%, gear for the steep sections, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is the sensible starting point for strong climbers, giving enough range to spin through the harder pitches without grinding. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance against fatigue late in the ascent, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket makes the 11.32% ramps far more manageable over a climb this length, and on a sustained effort gaining 1013 m, protecting your knees and rhythm is always worth it.

Summary

Siyuan Pass is a genuine category 1 test: long, steady, and unforgiving in its consistency. Pace it patiently, gear it generously, and it rewards you with a summit worth every metre of the 1013 m you earn.

Length: 15.9 km
Average gradient: 6.37%
Max gradient: 11.32%
Start: 949 m
Summit: 1962 m
Net gain: 1013 m
Total ascent: 986 m
Category: 1