Zhosalykezen

Overview

Zhosalykezen is a hors catégorie monster, and the raw numbers make the case on their own: 32.8 km of climbing at a 7.47% average, topping out at 3330 m after starting from 879 m. That is 2451 m of net elevation gain, with 2419 m of total ascent — meaning almost every metre you climb is a metre you keep. There is no coasting reprieve baked into this profile; it simply goes up, and it does so for a very long time.

At HC, this climb sits above category 1 in difficulty, and the combination of length and altitude is what earns it that label. A 7.47% average sustained over 32.8 km is punishing on its own, but finishing above 3300 m adds thin air to the equation. The last kilometres are the hardest not because the road necessarily steepens, but because you are climbing where oxygen is scarce.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 7.47% hides real variation. With a maximum pitch of 21.18%, there are ramps here that are more than double the average — sections steep enough to force you out of the saddle or into your easiest gear regardless of how you feel. Because the total ascent (2419 m) is only 32 m short of the net gain (2451 m), you can trust that the profile trends relentlessly upward with almost no rolling relief to recover on.

Think of the climb in thirds. The lower slopes begin near 879 m, where the air is still thick and legs are fresh. The middle stretch is where the 7.47% average grinds you down through sheer repetition. The final third climbs into genuine high-altitude terrain approaching 3330 m, and any ramp near that 21.18% maximum late in the effort will feel far harder than the same gradient lower down.

Pacing Notes

The single most important rule on a 32.8 km HC climb is to start slower than you think you should. Over an effort this long, going out even slightly too hard compounds badly. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: for a climb of this duration, most riders should sit comfortably below threshold, saving any surges for the steep pitches near the 21.18% maximum rather than burning matches on the average grade.

If you are unsure of your number, run it through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. Then factor in altitude — power that feels sustainable at 879 m will not be repeatable near 3330 m, so plan to bleed off effort as you climb rather than fighting to hold a flat wattage all the way up.

Gearing

This is a climb that rewards gearing generously. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible baseline, but given the 7.47% average sustained over 32.8 km and ramps up to 21.18%, most riders will be grateful for a 34×34. The bigger sprocket lets you spin the steep pitches at a cadence that protects your legs over 2451 m of climbing rather than grinding them into the ground early. When in doubt on an HC climb this long, choose the easier gear.

Summary

Zhosalykezen is a full high-mountain expedition: 32.8 km, 2451 m gained, finishing at 3330 m. Pace it conservatively, gear it low, and respect the thin air at the top.

Length: 32.8 km
Average gradient: 7.47%
Max gradient: 21.18%
Start: 879 m
Summit: 3330 m
Net gain: 2451 m
Total ascent: 2419 m
Category: HC