Zise

Overview

Zise is a long, sustained Category 1 climb that asks for patience more than punch. Over 17.3 km it averages 6.29%, lifting you from a start elevation of 200 m to a summit at 1286 m. That is 1086 m of net elevation gain and 1069 m of total ascent — numbers that put this firmly in the endurance bracket rather than the short-and-savage one. On the five-tier scale (HC hardest, then 1, 2, 3, 4), a Category 1 rating tells you plenty: this is a serious mountain effort, one rung below the hors catégorie giants, and long enough that the clock, not any single ramp, becomes your real opponent.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The average of 6.29% is honest but slightly flattering, because the road is not uniform. With a maximum gradient of 12.59% — almost exactly double the average — you should expect the climb to breathe. Long stretches sit near or just under that 6.29% mean, comfortable enough to hold a rhythm, before the road pitches up toward the steeper 12.59% sections that spike your effort and heart rate. Because the net gain (1086 m) exceeds the total ascent (1069 m), the profile is essentially relentless uphill with almost no relief: there are no meaningful downhill kilometres where you can freewheel and recover. What little variation exists comes from gradient, not descent, so you climb the entire 17.3 km.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, the fastest way up is a controlled, even effort. Ride to your FTP rather than to your ego. A sensible target for most riders is to settle just below threshold on the average-gradient sections and allow the pitches toward 12.59% to push you briefly above it, then ease back once the road relents. If you go into the red early, the sheer 17.3 km distance will collect the debt with interest well before the 1286 m summit.

If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. Knowing your ceiling turns a guessing game into arithmetic: pick a wattage you can hold for the full climb and defend it.

Gearing

With 1086 m of gaining to do at an average of 6.29% and ramps to 12.59%, gearing is about protecting your cadence for the long haul. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the right foundation. A 34×32 will get most fit riders over the steeper pitches without grinding, but on a climb of this length fatigue compounds, so a 34×34 is the smarter insurance — the extra range keeps your legs spinning on the 12.59% sections late in the effort when your reserves are thin. If in doubt, choose the easier gear: you will use it.

Summary

Zise is a true test of climbing endurance — long, steady, and unbroken, with just enough steepness to keep you honest. Pace it evenly, gear it generously, and let the 17.3 km come to you.

Length: 17.3 km
Average gradient: 6.29%
Max gradient: 12.59%
Start: 200 m
Summit: 1286 m
Net gain: 1086 m
Total ascent: 1069 m
Category: 1