Tochūgoe

Overview

Tochūgoe is a Category 3 climb in Japan, running 7.2 km from a start elevation of 95 m to a summit at 404 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 309 m at an average gradient of 4.3%. On paper this reads as a steady, moderate ascent — the kind of climb you can settle into rather than survive.

The paper number is misleading. The total ascent is 414 m, which is 105 m more than the net gain. That gap tells you the road does not climb cleanly: it gives back roughly a third of its net gain in descents and dips that you then have to reclaim. Every metre of that surrendered elevation is a metre you pay for twice, so the physiological cost sits well above what a simple 4.3% average would suggest.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 4.3% across 7.2 km hides both the recovery sections and the sharp ramps. The 105 m of undulation means the profile swings above and below the mean repeatedly, and the steepest recorded pitch touches 11.86% — nearly three times the average. Expect the climb to test you in bursts rather than as one long grind.

• Flatter and gently descending sections where you can recover, but which flatten your average and lull you into over-gearing
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the 414 m total ascent
• A steepest ramp around 11.86% that demands you shift down early and stay seated

Pacing Notes

On a clean, steady climb you can pace to even speed. Tochūgoe's undulation makes that a trap: chasing constant speed forces spikes over every ramp and coasting on every dip. Pace to even effort instead. Anchor your ride to your sustainable power output, hold it through the steep pitches, and resist the urge to hammer the flats to "make up time." If you do not know that number, run the FTP estimator before you go, then ride the ramps at or just above it and use the descents to genuinely recover.

Gearing

The 11.86% maximum is the number that should govern your setup. A standard chainset will have you grinding at low cadence on that ramp. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear keeps your cadence up when the road kicks. Check your setup before the ride; the flatter sections will feel fine, but the steep pitch is where an inadequate low gear costs you.

Summary

• Length: 7.2 km
• Average gradient: 4.3%
• Maximum gradient: 11.86%
• Net elevation gain: 309 m
• Total ascent: 414 m
• Category: 3

Tochūgoe is more demanding than its Category 3 label and 4.3% average imply. The 105 m gap between net gain and total ascent means undulation, not sustained steepness, defines the effort — pace to power, gear for the 11.86% ramp, and treat the flats as recovery, not opportunity.