Tizi N-Kouilal is a climb of 10.9 kilometers (hors catégorie). The climb finishes at 1,560 m above sea level. It is located in Aït Daoud, Tizi Ouzou, Algérie ⵍⵣⵣⴰⵢⴻⵔ الجزائر. The average gradient is 7.8% with a maximum of 14.6%. The climb has 853 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty analysis: At 10.9 km for 853 m of elevation gain, the Tizi N-Kouilal is a demanding beyond category climb, and its difficulty comes mostly from how relentless the gradient is. Kilometres 3 to 6 hold the steepest sections, with 10% between the 3rd and 4th kilometre, then 11% on the 4-5 and 5-6 stretches. The 2-3 km section, almost flat at 1%, gives you a welcome breather before that steep block, while kilometres 6 to 10 hold a sustained 6 to 7%.
Tips for the effort:
1. Pace yourself early The first 1 kilometres at 6% will tempt you to go out too hard, but you need to save something for the 3 to 6 km block.
2. Recover on the flat The 2-3 km stretch, at just 1%, is the ideal place to drink, eat and get your breathing back under control before the steepest part.
3. Keep a steady rhythm On the 11% gradients between kilometres 4 and 6, stay in an easier gear and spin a steady cadence rather than burning matches with surges, then keep that same rhythm over the 7% that follows all the way to the summit.
Those who have ridden the Tizi-n-Kouilal talk first about the scenery. Several find the place beautiful, and one of them says the pass is at its most beautiful under snow. One testimony gives an altitude of 1560 m.
What comes up most often is the atmosphere. One rider talks about the fear, the adventure and the solitude, with the clouds and the rocks all around him. He also mentions bad memories linked to a mountaineer, without giving more details.
For some, the pass matters for a personal reason. One rider writes that Kabylie is his roots, and he keeps a very good memory of the place.
Others want to go there. One rider would like to visit the place and is looking for a route to reach the summit of Lalla Khedidja.
The testimonies are short. They say nothing about the condition of the road, the traffic or the resupply, and comments like "splendid" or "good" don't add any more detail.
10.9 km • 853 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
Join thousands of cycling fans! Plan your rides, record your performance, track your progress and discover the finest climbs.
Live climb profile to pace your effort all the way to the top.
Other climbs to Tizi N-Kouilal