Zojila Pass

Overview

Zojila Pass is a category-2 climb that stretches 10.6 km from a start elevation of 2849 m to a summit at 3470 m. Over that distance you gain 621 m net, with the total ascent registering 587 m once the rolling sections are accounted for. The average gradient sits at 5.83%, a figure that reads as steady but conceals a sharper edge: the road ramps to a maximum of 11.42% where it is at its most demanding. What makes Zojila memorable is not any single wall but the combination of length, thin high-altitude air, and a summit well above 3400 m — a place where sustained tempo matters more than explosive power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The math tells a clear story. A 621 m net gain across 10.6 km produces the 5.83% average, yet the 587 m total ascent — smaller than the net gain — signals that this is essentially a one-way climb with little in the way of downhill respite; nearly every metre you turn is uphill. The gap between the 5.83% average and the 11.42% maximum is where the climb bites. Expect the road to hold you around the mid-single digits for long stretches before pitching up toward that 11.42% peak. Those steeper ramps arrive as punctuation rather than as the theme, so the challenge is resisting the urge to over-invest when the gradient briefly doubles.

Pacing Notes

Ride Zojila to your numbers, not your feelings. On a climb this long, holding a smooth output just below threshold is far more efficient than surging. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit comfortably beneath it on the 5.83% sections, keeping a small reserve for the pitches toward 11.42%. If you are unsure of your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go so your target power reflects reality rather than optimism. Remember that summiting above 3400 m thins the air — your sustainable power at 3470 m will be lower than at sea level, so pace conservatively early. Losing 20 seconds in the first kilometre to stay controlled is cheaper than blowing up before the top.

Gearing

For a 10.6 km climb averaging 5.83% with ramps to 11.42%, give yourself margin. A compact crankset paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible default. A 34×32 will cover most riders through the sustained middle grades and let you spin rather than grind. If you carry any extra load, tire easily at altitude, or simply prefer a higher cadence on the 11.42% pitches, step up to a 34×34 — the extra teeth are cheap insurance on a climb where holding rhythm to 3470 m is the whole game.

Summary

Zojila Pass rewards patience: 10.6 km of mostly uphill riding, a fair 5.83% average, a stinging 11.42% maximum, and a high-altitude finish at 3470 m. Pace it to your numbers, gear for comfort, and let the steady sections do the work.

Length: 10.6 km
Average gradient: 5.83%
Max gradient: 11.42%
Start: 2849 m
Summit: 3470 m
Net gain: 621 m
Total ascent: 587 m
Category: 2