Kamine Pass

Kamine Pass cycling climb profile

Kamine Pass is a short, controlled climbing effort rather than a long endurance grind. The profile measures 4.9 km, starts at 63 m, and tops out at 260 m, giving a net elevation gain of 197 m. With an average gradient of 4.05%, it sits firmly in Category 4 territory: enough climbing to matter, but not steep or long enough to demand a full mountain-pass pacing strategy.

The key detail is the contrast between the average gradient and the maximum gradient of 8.72%. A climb averaging just over 4% can feel fairly manageable if it is steady, but the listed maximum shows that Kamine Pass has at least one sharper section that can punish riders who treat the whole climb like a gentle drag. The smart read is to pace it as a moderate climb with interruptions, not as a uniform tempo ramp.

How the gradient rides

From bottom to summit, the numbers point to a climb where momentum matters. The average gradient is low enough that speed will stay relatively high on easier sections, which means small changes in effort can make a noticeable difference. If you surge too hard whenever the road kicks up, you risk carrying fatigue into the upper part of the climb without gaining much time.

The maximum gradient of 8.72% changes the feel. That pitch is not extreme, but it is steep enough to force a gear change and lift power above steady-state if you are not prepared. Because the climb is only 4.9 km long, the temptation is to over-commit early. That is the main pacing mistake here.

Pacing and gearing notes

Ride the lower and easier portions at a controlled tempo, then let the effort rise slightly on the steeper ramps without turning them into repeated attacks. If you know your /glossary/ftp, this is the kind of climb where riding just under threshold on the steadier sections and briefly above it on the steepest gradients can work well, provided you do not spike too often.

Gearing should prioritize cadence control. A standard road setup may be enough for strong riders, but anyone who struggles when the road approaches 9% will want a lower climbing gear available. The goal is not simply to survive the steepest pitch - it is to get over it without flooding the legs, then keep pressure on all the way to the 260 m summit.

Kamine Pass is best approached with restraint at the bottom, flexibility through the steeper moments, and a clean final push once the summit is within reach.