Zagari Pass

Overview

Zagari Pass is a long, high-altitude category 1 climb that stretches 23.9 km from a valley floor at 1324 m up to a summit of 2621 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 1297 m and a total ascent of 1279 m, meaning the road pitches upward almost the entire way with only the faintest respite. The average gradient of 5.43% sounds civil on paper, but at nearly 24 km in length this is a climb measured in patience rather than punch. Add the thin air near 2621 m and you have an effort that rewards riders who ration their energy from the very first pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 5.43% hides real variation. With a maximum gradient of 18.66%, there are ramps here steep enough to force you out of the saddle even on fresh legs. The gap between the 1279 m of total ascent and the 1297 m net gain tells you the descending is essentially negligible — this is a relentlessly upward road, so you rarely get to recover on the move. Expect the profile to alternate between long, moderate drags around the 5.43% average and short, sharp kicks that spike toward that 18.66% ceiling. Managing those spikes without redlining is the whole game on a climb of this duration.

Pacing Notes

At 23.9 km, Zagari Pass is a sustained-power effort, so anchor your pacing to your FTP. For most riders, holding just below threshold is the sweet spot: high enough to keep the 1297 m of vertical clicking away, low enough that the steepest 18.66% pitches don't blow your effort apart. If you aren't sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. Ride the average 5.43% sections at a steady, repeatable power, then allow your effort — not your pace — to lift briefly over the ramps. Because the summit sits at 2621 m, altitude will quietly shave watts off your ceiling the higher you climb, so bank a little margin early rather than chasing a fast split you can't hold near the top.

Gearing

Twenty-four kilometres with pitches hitting 18.66% demands generous gearing. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline: a 34×32 will cover most of the climb comfortably, letting you spin the long 5.43% stretches without grinding. But for the steepest kicks toward 18.66% — especially with 1297 m of accumulated fatigue and thin air near 2621 m in your legs — a 34×34 gives you the extra bailout gear that keeps your cadence up and your knees happy. If your bike accepts it, err toward the 34×34. On a climb this long, the lowest gear you never quite need beats the one you wish you had.

Summary

Zagari Pass is a true endurance climb: nearly 24 km of near-constant ascending, a fair 5.43% average that masks brutal 18.66% ramps, and a summit high enough that altitude becomes a factor. Pace it by power, gear it low, and respect the length — the summit at 2621 m comes to those who ration their effort.

Length: 23.9 km
Average gradient: 5.43%
Max gradient: 18.66%
Start: 1324 m
Summit: 2621 m
Net gain: 1297 m
Total ascent: 1279 m
Category: 1