Kagosaka Pass

Overview

Kagosaka Pass is a category 2 climb in Japan, running 10.7 km from a start elevation of 559 m to a summit at 1,121 m. Over that distance you accumulate 562 m of net elevation gain, giving the profile its official 5.24% average gradient. On paper that is a moderate, steady climb — the kind you can settle into and grind out.

The number that matters more, though, is the 798 m of total ascent. That is 236 m more climbing than the net gain suggests, which means roughly 236 m of descending is folded into the ride. Kagosaka is not a single uninterrupted ramp — it undulates. You pay for those downhill and flat stretches by re-climbing the elevation you just gave back, and the true climbing load is closer to 798 m than 562 m. Budget your legs accordingly.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.24% average is a blended figure that hides the real shape of the road. Because the total ascent exceeds the net gain by 236 m, the climb rolls: sections that flatten or drop, followed by pitches that reclaim the lost height. Those reclaiming pitches are where the gradient bites, and the steepest ramp on the climb reaches 17.66% — more than three times the average.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or descends, giving the average its moderate look
• Repeated short climbs that re-earn the elevation lost on the descents
• A steepest ramp of 17.66% that demands a hard, brief effort

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, do not chase an even speed — you would blow up on the steep pitches and coast the flats. Pace by even effort instead, holding a steady sustainable power output through both the ramps and the recovery sections. Let your speed rise on the shallower stretches and drop on the 17.66% pitches while your power stays roughly constant.

Know your ceiling before you start. Use the FTP estimator to set a target you can hold across the full 10.7 km, then ride just under it on the descents so you have headroom for the climbs that follow.

Gearing

The 17.66% maximum gradient governs your gearing choice. That is steep enough to spin out a standard chainset late in a 798 m climbing day, so run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you a bailout for the steepest ramp. Check your setup before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up a 17.66% pitch is not the place to find out.

Summary

• Length: 10.7 km
• Average gradient: 5.24%
• Maximum gradient: 17.66%
• Net elevation gain: 562 m
• Total ascent: 798 m
• Category: 2

Kagosaka Pass reads as a moderate category 2 climb, but the gap between its 562 m net gain and 798 m total ascent tells the real story. Pace by effort, gear for the 17.66% ramp, and treat every descent as elevation you will have to earn back.