Crystal Springs is a climb of 8.0 kilometers (category 1). Crystal Springs tops out at 1,772 m above sea level. It is located in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The average gradient is 6.7% with a maximum of 15.8%. The climb has 531 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: This 8 km climb has two distinct phases. The first 2 km are relatively easy, with gradients of 2-3%, and serve as a warm-up. The real difficulty kicks in abruptly at KM 2.0 with a tough 4 km section where the gradient stays consistently above 8%, peaking at 12% between KM 2.0-2.5 and 3.5-4.0. This steep central part accounts for most of the climbing and gives the climb its Cat 1 character. The final 2 km offer a welcome break, with gradients easing from 4% to 2%.
Tips for managing the effort:
1. Pacing: Use the first 2 km to find your rhythm without burning matches. Expect the hard part from KM 2.0 onward, and adjust your effort to keep a steady cadence on the sections at 10-12%.
2. Mental approach: Break the climb into three sections: the approach (KM 0-2), the hard core (KM 2-6) and the run-in to the top (KM 6-8). Focus on getting through the central section one kilometre at a time.
3. Energy management: On the steepest pitches, spin a light gear to avoid blowing up. Use the final kilometres, which are less steep, to recover a bit and push the pace if you have anything left in the tank.
8.0 km • 531 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
Join thousands of cycling fans! Plan your rides, record your performance, track your progress and discover the finest climbs.
Live climb profile to pace your effort all the way to the top.
