Tizi N-Kouilal is a climb of 21.1 kilometers (hors catégorie). The climb finishes at 1,566 m above sea level. It is located in El Adjiba, Bouira, Algérie ⵍⵣⵣⴰⵢⴻⵔ الجزائر. The average gradient is 6.0% with a maximum of 16%. The climb has 1267 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: At 21.1 km for 1267 m of climbing with an average gradient of 6%, the Tizi N-Kouilal is a high-mountain pass rated HC. Its difficulty comes mainly from its length: 17 of the 22 km sit between 4% and 6%, with no real respite. The hardest section is between km 5.0 and km 6.0 at 12%, followed by km 7.0-8.0 at 9%. Km 1.0-2.0, at 1%, offers an easier warm-up.
Tips for pacing yourself:
1. Save something for later: On the first kilometres, use the false flat of km 1.0-2.0 to spin your legs and settle into a rhythm, rather than going out too hard.
2. Prepare for the 12% ramp: Get into a light enough gear before km 5.0, and keep a smooth, steady cadence through the 5.0-6.0 section and again on the 7.0-8.0 stretch.
3. Hold a steady pace to the summit: From km 13.0 to km 21.0, where the gradient hovers between 4% and 6%, avoid unnecessary surges and save some energy for the final 100 m stretches between km 20.0 and 21.0.
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.
21.1 km • 1267 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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