Te Ponanga Saddle is a climb of 6.5 kilometers (category 1). Te Ponanga Saddle tops out at 716 m above sea level. It is located in n/a, Waikato, New Zealand / Aotearoa. The average gradient is 6.1% with a maximum of 15.4%. The climb has 394 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: This Cat 1 climb is genuinely hard because of its uneven profile. The 6.1% average gradient hides some extreme variations, with three very punchy sections at 11% (km 0.5-1.0), 13% (km 3.0-3.5) and 10% (km 2.0-2.5). The hardest kilometre is clearly between 3.0 and 3.5, with 13% over 500m. The top is very easy, at 1% over the last 500m, which gives you a welcome breather.
Pacing advice:
1. Prepare for the three steep ramps: Don't go too hard in the easier opening kilometres. Save something for the 11% and 13% sections.
2. Ride at a steady rhythm: Find a power output or heart rate you can hold on the 7-8% gradients, so you don't blow up on the 13% section.
3. Make the most of the flatter stretches: The 4-5% sections (like after km 2.5 and 4.0) are a good chance to recover actively without slowing down too much.
6.5 km • 394 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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