Ivan-sedlo is a climb of 9.4 kilometers (hors catégorie). The climb finishes at 962 m above sea level. It is located in Brđani, Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine, Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина. The average gradient is 6.4% with a maximum of 15.7%. The climb has 607 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: At 9.4 km, with 607 m of elevation gain and an average gradient of 6.4%, the Ivan-sedlo is a beyond-category climb that rewards a steady, sustained effort. The opening kilometres, between 5% and 8% from KM 0.0-0.5 to KM 3.5-4.0, will eat into your legs before the hardest section. KM 4.0-4.5 at 17% over 85 m of climbing is the key point of the effort, followed by a string of 9% and 11% ramps in the second half.
Tips for the effort:
1. Manage your pace from the bottom. On KM 0.0-0.5 to KM 3.5-4.0, ride at a steady intensity and save something in the tank for later.
2. Prepare for the KM 4.0-4.5 wall. Shift down to an easy gear before you hit the 17% section, then stay seated and relaxed to keep a smooth, consistent cadence.
3. Use the recovery sections. Take advantage of KM 4.5-5.0, descending at -2%, and easier stretches like KM 5.5-6.0 at 2% to recover, before getting ready for the 11% ramps of KM 6.5-7.0 and the 9% section at KM 7.5-8.0.
Ivan Sedlo pass sits at around 960 meters above sea level, between the Bitovnja and Bjelašnica mountains on the Ivan-planina. It links two major parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and marks the divide between the Adriatic and Black Sea watersheds. Riders who've been up it describe it as a spot of nature and fresh air, and a few say it's the easiest way to reach Mount Bitovnja from Sarajevo.
The road is tarmac, two lanes wide. One rider reports that after four or five minutes of riding, you leave the asphalt for roughly 100 meters of gravel track to a shady corner where you can hear the birds. There's also a memorial to those who died defending the country. One rider mentions a phenological garden nearby.
The downsides come up a lot. Several riders talk about frequent roadworks and a wind farm that has changed the place considerably, to the point that one rider feels the wind turbines have ruined the spot. The pass is also considered very tough for traffic, especially in winter. One person notes that on July 27, thousands of visitors used to come every year, whereas today there are far fewer people.
As for food and supplies, reviews of what's on offer up there are very positive: one rider calls it top quality, with a wide range of pastries, breads and pizzas.
Other feedback is more lukewarm, sometimes just "fine" or "just another pass." If you're mainly after peace and quiet, shade and a proper nature ride, the reviews are pretty favorable. If you're hoping for a quiet road and an untouched site, you'll have to put up with the roadworks and traffic.
9.4 km • 607 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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