Vratnik

Overview

Vratnik is a long, sustained category 2 climb that covers 12.4 km and lifts you from a near sea-level start of just 2 m to a summit at 691 m. That works out to 689 m of net elevation gain, though the road actually asks for 743 m of total ascent once you account for the small dips and false flats along the way. The headline average of 5.55% sounds moderate, and for long stretches it is — but a maximum pitch of 20.11% means this is a climb with real teeth hiding inside an otherwise honest gradient.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 5.55% average and the 20.11% maximum tells the whole story: this is not a metronomic climb. Roughly a hundred meters of vertical difference exists between the net gain of 689 m and the total ascent of 743 m, and those extra 54 m come from rollers and recoveries that break the rhythm. Expect long ramps sitting near or just above the average, punctuated by at least one severe pitch approaching that 20.11% wall. Because the climb begins at only 2 m, the lower slopes tend to be where the road stacks the most consistent gradient, with steeper spikes arriving as you gain altitude toward the 691 m top.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of this length, discipline beats ambition. Twelve-plus kilometers at 5.55% is a sustained aerobic effort, so anchor your pacing to your FTP rather than to how fresh you feel in the first kilometer. Ride the steady sections a touch below threshold to keep a reserve for the 20.11% ramp, where power will spike whether you want it to or not. If you don't have a current threshold number, run yours through the FTP estimator before you plan the effort — knowing your ceiling turns those steep pitches from a gamble into a managed cost. The total ascent of 743 m over 12.4 km is a big time-on-climb, so fuel and hydrate as if this were a long tempo block, not a short punch.

Gearing

Choose gearing for the 20.11% maximum, not the 5.55% average. A compact 34-tooth front with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline here. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the steady majority of the 12.4 km, but the steepest ramp near 20% is where 34×32 starts to feel harsh. If you like to spin or you're carrying fatigue, opt for 34×34 (or lower) so you can keep cadence up and protect your legs across the full 689 m of climbing. On a climb this long, the easier gear pays back every time the road tilts up.

Summary

Vratnik rewards patience: start easy from the 2 m base, meter your effort across the 12.4 km, and save something for the 20.11% pitch before the 691 m summit. Bring low gearing, pace to your threshold, and the average of 5.55% will feel very manageable.

Length: 12.4 km
Average gradient: 5.55%
Max gradient: 20.11%
Start: 2 m
Summit: 691 m
Net gain: 689 m
Total ascent: 743 m
Category: 2