To decide the category of a climb we
multiply the length of the climb (in meters) with the grade of the climb in percent
‘ – Strava. To be classed as a categorised climb the total must be 8000 or more. In theory this sounds great, a simple formula that can categories any climb anywhere, no subjectivity.
What is a Category 2 climb in cycling?
A Category 2 can be
as short as 5km at 8 percent, or as long as 15km at 4 percent
. A Category 1, once the highest category, can be anything from 8km at 8 percent to 20km at 5 percent. An hors catégorie (“above category”) rating is given to exceptionally tough climbs.
How does strava categorize climbs?
- The average gradient is at least 3.0%
- The segment distance is at least 300 meters.
- The length of the climb (in meters) multiplied by the grade of the climb is greater than 8,000.
What is a cat 3 climb?
Cat 3. This could be
a climb as short as 1km with a steep gradient of about 10% or a mellower climb up to 10km long with up to a 5% gradient
. Cat 4. The easiest categorised climbs of all, under 2km long with an average grade of around 5% or 2-3% up to 5km long.
What are the climb categories?
- 8,000 or greater: Category 4.
- 16,000 or greater: Category 3.
- 32,000 or greater: Category 2.
- 64,000 or greater: Category 1.
- 80,000 or greater: Hors Catégorie.
What is a category 4 climb in strava?
If that number is
greater than 8,000
then it is a categorized climb. CAT 4 > 8,000.
What is hors category climb?
Hors catégorie (HC) is
a French term used in stage bicycle races to designate a climb that is “beyond categorization”
. The term was originally used for those mountain roads where cars were not expected to be able to pass. The HC climb is the most difficult type of climb in a race.
What is the hardest climb in cycling?
The hardest bike climb in the World is
Mauna Kea, Big Island, Hawaii
, and is also by far the most difficult bike climb in the world. Mauna Kea has it all: length (42.5 miles), altitude (sea level to nearly 14,000′), and gradient (the last 10 miles are from 8,120′ to 13,779′ at 10.7% average grade).
How are TDF climbs Categorised?
According to legend, the Tour de France’s climbs are categorised
by the gear that a Citroën 2CV, the iconically French car, had to use to successfully make it to the top
. Category 4, the lowest categorisation for the easiest hills, was possible in fourth gear; Category 3 in third gear, and so on.
What is a steep grade for cycling?
In cycling terms, “gradient” simply refers to the steepness of a section of road.
A flat road is said to have a gradient of 0%
, and a road with a higher gradient (e.g. 10%) is steeper than a road with a lower gradient (e.g. 5%). A downhill road is said to have a negative gradient.
What is the steepest grade in the Tour de France?
The peak of
Mont Ventoux
reaches an altitude of 1,900 metres. The climb is both long and steep at 15.8km and 8.5% average gradient.
What are punchy climbs?
A punchy climb is
anything you can do above your threshold power without having to stop
. But if you cannot make it to the top by the time you blow, you know it’s a sustained climb.
What is the longest cycling climb in the world?
Mauna Kea
. With an elevation gain of 4,018 metres, Mauna Kea is arguably the world’s longest road climb.
