Kandovān Pass from Karadj: what you need to know

Difficulty breakdown: The Kandovān Pass from Malek Fālīz is a hors catégorie climb: 19.1 km with 899 m of elevation gain, averaging 4.7%. The first six kilometres are fairly rolling, with gradients mostly between 1% and 2%, apart from a 3% section at km 2.0-3.0. The real difficulty starts at km 6.0 and runs through to km 19.0, where the gradient bounces between 4% and 7% with almost no let-up. It's the length of that sustained effort, far more than the maximum gradient, that will make the difference.

Tips for the effort:

1. Save your legs from the start. Hold a steady rhythm over the first kilometres (km 0.0-6.0) and don't let yourself get carried away, because you'll need those legs for the second half.

2. Manage the 7% section from km 6.0-7.0. Pick a light enough gear and spin a smooth cadence so you don't dig yourself into a hole too early.

3. Make the most of the 4% recovery from km 17.0-18.0. Catch your breath before the punchy 6% ramp at km 18.0-19.0, then dig into your reserves to finish the climb.