Havran is a climb of 3.8 kilometers (category 3). The climb finishes at 390 m above sea level. It is located in Banka, Trnavský kraj, Slovensko. The average gradient is 5.5% with a maximum of 6.9%. The climb has 207 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: Havran from Banka is a 3.8 km climb with 207 m of elevation gain, averaging 5.5%, which puts it in Category 3. The gradient is very even: after a 4% start over the first 500 metres (KM 0.0-0.5), the road sits at 6% from KM 0.5 to KM 3.5. The last section (KM 3.5-3.8) eases slightly to 5%, with no real recovery. It's a long, sustained grind rather than a brutal ramp, and it's all about steady pedalling.
Tips for the effort:
1. Don't go out too hard. On the 4% section (KM 0.0-0.5), keep the effort controlled so you still have something left for the 3 km at 6% that follow.
2. Find a steady rhythm at 6%. Between KM 0.5 and KM 3.5, pick a gear that lets you hold a smooth cadence and a constant effort, without surging.
3. Empty the tank from KM 3.5-3.8. On this final 5% section of 281 metres, push a little harder and dig into your reserves so you crest the summit with everything you have left.
Havran Pass sits on the border between the Nitra and Trnava regions, on the road that leaves from Piešťany. Those who've ridden up it mostly talk about it as a jumping-off point for an outing on foot, on the mountain bike or on the road, with forests, singletrack and views over the hills around.
For mountain biking, the feedback is good. One rider mentions plenty of forest tracks in good condition, and another finds the pass super for riding. The trails are well marked, and the route can be downloaded from mapy.cz for offline use. The car park is free but unattended.
In spring, wild garlic grows in quantity around the pass, according to those who passed through during the flowering. From the summit, riders name the Smolenice hills, Veľký Plešivec, Slnava and Piešťany. In autumn, the air is crisp and the atmosphere is pleasant.
The weak point comes up often: the restaurant at the pass. Several reports say it has been closed for a long time and is in poor shape, and one rider only found shelter there during a thunderstorm. One rider recommends the Furman restaurant, further along the road, as the place to stop and eat.
On the traffic side, one rider reports that motorcyclists don't respect the rules of the road. There are also roadworks in progress on the road towards Piešťany, and a notice announces a one-year repair, with restricted passage because of the surface and slippery sections.
3.8 km • 207 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.
