Stalheimskleiva

Overview

Stalheimskleiva is a short, savage Category 2 climb in Norway that packs an outsized punch into just 3.2 km. Over that distance it lifts you from a start elevation of 107 m to a summit at 376 m, a net elevation gain of 269 m and a total ascent of 268 m. The headline number is the average gradient: 8.32% sustained across the entire climb, with a peak that rears up to a brutal 22.03%. There is nowhere to hide here. This is a climb defined by its steepness rather than its length, the kind of effort that is over quickly but leaves a mark.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 8.32% average over 3.2 km, Stalheimskleiva never really relents. The defining feature is the disparity between the average and the max: while the mean sits at a demanding 8.32%, ramps push toward 22.03%, which is roughly 13.71 percentage points above the average. That tells you the climb is not evenly graded. Expect stretches near the mean punctuated by walls that briefly touch double the average pitch. With only 3.2 km to work with, the steep sections arrive close together, and there is little flat recovery to reset your legs between them. The elevation profile is compact and vertical: 269 m of net gain crammed into a road that rarely eases below the low double digits on its hardest pitches.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is about survival on the walls rather than long-range energy management. Ride the ramps toward 22.03% below your threshold so you have something left when the gradient eases back toward 8.32%. Knowing your FTP is essential here: it defines the ceiling you can hold across a sustained 3.2 km effort without blowing apart on the steepest pitches. If you are not sure of your number, use the FTP estimator to get a working figure before you commit to a target power. Aim to keep your effort just under threshold on the average sections, and accept that the 22.03% ramps will spike you well over it momentarily; the trick is recovering quickly once each wall relents.

Gearing

Steepness dictates gearing, and at a 22.03% max you want low ratios ready. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 32-tooth rear sprocket (34×32) is the sensible baseline for most riders tackling an 8.32% average with 22.03% spikes. If you carry any fatigue or extra weight, or if you simply prefer to spin rather than grind, step to a 34×34 to keep your cadence up on the steepest pitches. On a 3.2 km climb the marginal weight of a bigger cassette costs you almost nothing, while the extra range buys you real insurance against the ramps that touch 22.03%.

Summary

Stalheimskleiva is a compact, ferocious test: 3.2 km at 8.32% average with a 22.03% max, gaining 269 m from base to summit. Come with low gearing, respect the walls, and it will be over before you know it.

Length: 3.2 km
Average gradient: 8.32%
Max gradient: 22.03%
Start: 107 m
Summit: 376 m
Net gain: 269 m
Total ascent: 268 m
Category: 2