Ōpōuri Saddle is a climb of 5.9 kilometers (hors catégorie). The climb finishes at 519 m above sea level. It is located in Marlborough Sounds, Marlborough, New Zealand / Aotearoa. The average gradient is 9.4% with a maximum of 15%. The climb has 554 meters of elevation gain.
Climb analysis: At 5.9 km for 554 m of elevation gain and an average gradient of 9.4%, the Col d'Ōpōuri is a serious climb, rated HC. The start is straight in with 10% over the first 500 metres, then the road eases to 4% between the 1.0 and 2.0 km marks. The real damage is in the last third, with ramps at 13% between 4.0 and 4.5 km, then again between 5.0 and 5.5 km.
Pacing tips:
1. Pace the start. The first 500 metres at 10% will tempt you to go hard. Don't. Save your legs for what comes next.
2. Recover on the false flat. Between 1.0 and 2.0 km, at 4%, settle into a steady cadence and use the break to drink and fuel up.
3. Tackle the final ramps. Hit the 13% sections (4.0-4.5 km and 5.0-5.5 km) in an easy gear with a smooth cadence, staying seated. Then catch your breath on the 8% stretch from 4.5 to 5.0 km.
Only two accounts, but they say what matters: the view is stunning. One rider finds it really beautiful, and the other keeps talking about spectacular scenery all the way up the climb.
The wind is the thing to watch. One rider advises caution, and even more so on stormy days. The accounts say nothing else about the weather or how steep the grade is.
There are lots of weka around, those local flightless birds that get very close to people. The same rider also mentions one restriction: only "SC" (self-contained) vehicles are allowed.
5.9 km • 554 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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