Van Rhynspas

Overview

Van Rhynspas is a Category 2 climb in South Africa, running 9.8 km from a start elevation of 200 m to a summit at 725 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 525 m at an average gradient of 5.35%. On paper that is a moderate, steady grind — the kind of climb you can settle into and grind out without theatrics.

The number that changes the picture is total ascent: 748 m against a net gain of 525 m. That 223 m gap is undulation — climbing you do that gets erased by intervening descents and false flats. It means the road does not rise cleanly. You pay for extra vertical you do not keep, and every short drop resets your rhythm. Plan your effort around the 748 m you actually have to climb, not the 525 m the profile appears to promise.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.35% average is a blend, not a constant. With 223 m of ascent hidden inside descents, long stretches sit well below average — and to hit 5.35% overall, other pitches run steeper to compensate. The steepest ramp reaches 17.29%, a gradient that will spike your effort and force you out of any comfortable cadence.

Expect the profile to break down roughly like this:

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases off or briefly tips downhill, letting you soft-pedal
• Repeated short climbs that reload your legs each time the grade kicks back up
• A steepest ramp at 17.29% that demands your lowest gear and biggest surge of the day

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Holding a constant pace forces you to over-spend on every ramp and coast through every dip — the worst of both worlds. Anchor your ride to a target sustainable power output and hold it steadily, letting speed rise on the flatter recovery sections and fall on the steep pitches.

If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first. Aim to sit at a percentage of that number you can carry for the full 9.8 km, and give yourself a small headroom buffer for the 17.29% ramp rather than blowing your effort budget there.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your gearing choice, and 17.29% is steep enough to punish an under-geared bike. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you a cadence you can actually turn on the steepest ramp instead of grinding to a stall. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the cassette and chainset you are running, and make sure the low gear is there before you are staring up the 17.29% pitch.

Summary

• Length: 9.8 km
• Average gradient: 5.35%
• Maximum gradient: 17.29%
• Net elevation gain: 525 m
• Total ascent: 748 m
• Category: 2

Van Rhynspas is a Category 2 climb that rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace to power, gear for the 17.29% ramp, and treat the full 748 m of ascent — not the 525 m net gain — as the real work.