Tsuetsuki Pass

Overview

Tsuetsuki Pass is a Category 2 climb in Japan, running 11 km from a start elevation of 758 m to a summit at 1,248 m. On paper that is 490 m of net elevation gain — a moderate ceiling for a climb of this length, which is why it sits in the second category rather than higher.

The number that reshapes the effort is total ascent. Against 490 m of net gain, the road actually racks up 822 m of climbing. That gap — 332 m — is elevation you earn and then hand straight back on descents and false flats before earning it again. The climb undulates rather than rising in a single clean line, so your legs do noticeably more work than the net figure suggests, and any pacing plan built purely on 490 m will underestimate the day.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.44% average is a blended figure that flattens a lumpy reality. With 332 m of extra ascent baked into the profile, the road clearly gives back grade in places, which means the climbing sections must be steeper than the average to compensate. The steepest ramp bites at 17.53% — nearly four times the average — so the effort is spiky, not steady.

Expect the profile to include:

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections that drag the average down
• Repeated short climbs that reset your rhythm again and again
• A steepest ramp near 17.53% that will spike your power well above threshold

Pacing Notes

Do not pace this climb to even speed — on an undulating road, holding constant speed means surging on every riser and coasting on every dip, which torches your legs. Pace to even effort instead. Anchor your climbing sections to your sustainable power output, ease slightly on the recovery grades rather than sprinting through them, and let speed vary with the terrain.

Because total ascent runs well above net gain, budget for a longer time-on-climb than 490 m implies. If you are unsure of your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target.

Gearing

The 17.53% max pitch governs your gear choice, not the 4.44% average. On a ramp that steep, an ordinary road setup will have you grinding at low cadence and burning matches. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — 34×32 or 34×34 — so you can spin the steepest section instead of muscling it. Confirm your chainset and cassette before the ride; the worst place to discover you are over-geared is halfway up the 17% ramp.

Summary

• Length: 11 km
• Average gradient: 4.44%
• Maximum gradient: 17.53%
• Net elevation gain: 490 m
• Total ascent: 822 m
• Category: 2

Tsuetsuki Pass rewards riders who read the whole profile, not just the headline gain. Pace to effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the 822 m of total ascent as the honest measure of the day.