Cả Pass

Overview

Cả Pass is a compact, punchy category 3 climb that rewards commitment over patience. At just 2.2 km long, it never overstays its welcome, but the numbers tell you not to underestimate it: an average gradient of 6.75% and a maximum of 7.28% mean there is nowhere to truly recover once the road tilts up. You start at 3 m above sea level and finish at 152 m, a net gain of 149 m packed into a distance most riders can see the top of before they begin. This is a climb of intent — the kind you attack rather than survive.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Cả Pass is its consistency. With an average of 6.75% and a maximum of only 7.28%, the difference between the hardest ramp and the typical slope is barely half a percent. That tight band means there are no savage spikes to blow your legs apart and no flat reprieves to coast on. Instead, the road settles into a steady, grinding rhythm almost immediately and holds it. Over 2.2 km you climb 149 m in net terms, with a total ascent of 124 m of actual uphill work — a hint that the profile is nearly all upward, with little rolling relief. Expect the gradient to bite from the base and stay honest all the way to the 152 m summit.

Pacing Notes

Because the slope is so uniform, Cả Pass is an ideal climb for riding at a fixed, sustainable effort. Pick a power target you can hold for the full 2.2 km and lock into it rather than surging. Riders using a power meter should aim to sit just around or slightly below their FTP for a climb this short — the brevity means you can push a little harder than on a long alpine ascent without blowing up. If you do not know your threshold yet, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your pacing. With only 149 m of net gain to conquer, the smart play is a strong, even tempo from the bottom, then a controlled lift over the final stretch to the top.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 6.75% and topping out at 7.28%, a compact setup is more than adequate. A 34×32 lowest gear gives most riders enough range to spin comfortably at a steady cadence across the full 2.2 km without grinding. If you prefer to keep your legs fresh and your cadence high — or you are carrying fatigue from earlier climbing — a 34×34 provides a welcome extra margin of easier spinning for the steepest 7.28% pitches. Either choice works here; the modest 149 m of elevation gain means gearing is about comfort and cadence, not simply getting over the top.

Summary

Cả Pass is a short, consistent, honest climb: 2.2 km of steady effort with no tricks, no false flats, and no vicious ramps. Its uniform 6.75% average makes it perfect for a measured threshold effort, and a compact drivetrain handles it with ease. Attack it with a plan and it becomes one of the more satisfying category 3 efforts you can log.

Length: 2.2 km
Average gradient: 6.75%
Max gradient: 7.28%
Start: 3 m
Summit: 152 m
Net gain: 149 m
Total ascent: 124 m
Category: 3