Matawai road pass is a climb of 5.4 kilometers (category 1). Matawai road pass tops out at 717 m above sea level. It is located in n/a, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand / Aotearoa. The average gradient is 7.2% with a maximum of 12.3%. The climb has 385 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty analysis: This 1st category climb is genuinely hard, with an uneven profile. The toughest section sits between km 3.0 and 3.5 (12% gradient), preceded by a 9% ramp. The 7% average gradient is misleading because these two hard sections break up your rhythm.
Pacing tips:
1. Manage your pace from km 2.5: Prepare for the 9% section (km 2.5-3.0) followed by the 12% section (km 3.0-3.5). Don't blow up in the first kilometres, which are more moderate (4-7%), so you reach this critical one-two punch with something left in the tank.
2. Get into an easy gear before km 3.0: The 12% pitch over 57m of climbing requires a gear that lets you keep your cadence up without burning out too early.
3. Use the breathers: The 4-5% stretches (km 1.5-2.0 and km 3.5-4.0) give you chances to recover while still turning the pedals. Use them to ease off slightly and get your breathing back under control.
5.4 km • 385 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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