Wedge Pass

Wedge Pass cycling climb profile

Wedge Pass is a short climb by distance, but not by workload. The profile runs 8.2 km from 672 m to 1,672 m, gaining 1,000 m in elevation and carrying an average gradient of 12.15%. That combination makes the climb brutally simple to understand: there is not much room to recover, and any pacing mistake is likely to show up quickly.

The HC rating is justified less by length and more by density. An 8.2 km climb averaging above 12% asks for sustained torque, not just aerobic patience. This is the kind of ascent where speed stays low, cadence can collapse if gearing is too ambitious, and the climb feels longer than the distance suggests because so much of the route is spent under muscular load.

How the gradient plays out

The available profile data does not give a kilometre-by-kilometre breakdown, so the safest read is from the overall shape rather than invented sections. From the start at 672 m to the summit at 1,672 m, Wedge Pass gains elevation at an extremely high rate. A 12.15% average over 8.2 km means the climb cannot be treated as a steady tempo ramp unless the rider has genuinely low gearing and strong climbing durability.

The listed maximum gradient of 25.42% is the key tactical detail. Even if that pitch is brief, it changes how the entire climb should be ridden. On a climb this steep overall, the hardest ramps are not isolated annoyances - they are likely to force spikes in torque and power unless the rider leaves margin early. The practical effect is that the bottom half should feel controlled, not impressive. If it already feels like a threshold effort early, the upper part is likely to become a grind.

The provided data also lists 944 m of total ascent alongside 1,000 m of net elevation gain. That discrepancy is unusual, but it does not change the riding conclusion: this is a near-continuous uphill effort where the main challenge is managing sustained steepness rather than chasing momentum between flatter sections.

Pacing and gearing notes

Treat Wedge Pass as a climb where cadence preservation matters as much as power. The average gradient is steep enough that riders should choose gearing for the 25.42% maximum, not for the 12.15% average. If the easiest gear only feels comfortable on moderate gradients, it is probably too large for this climb.

A good pacing target is controlled climbing below the red line for as long as possible, then accepting short surges only when the gradient forces them. Riders using power should avoid chasing a smooth number if the slope bites. Let power rise briefly on the steepest pitches, then settle immediately rather than trying to hold the surge. For more on setting realistic effort caps, see /glossary/ftp.

The winning approach is boring but effective: start conservatively, keep cadence alive, and protect the legs for the final elevation gain. Wedge Pass is not long enough to reward drifting, but it is steep enough to punish optimism.