Mahlasela Pass (Afriski Mountain Resort) is a climb of 4.9 kilometers (category 2). Mahlasela Pass (Afriski Mountain Resort) tops out at 3,269 m above sea level. The average gradient is 4.8% with a maximum of 12.1%. The climb has 233 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: This 4.9 km climb with 233 m of elevation gain has an average gradient of 4.8%, but that average hides a harder ascent than it looks. The first 1.5 km are rolling (1 to 3%), then a 2 km central block, from km 1.5 to km 3.5, sits at 8 to 9% and packs in 172 m of climbing. The section from km 3.5 to km 4.5 (2% then 4%) gives you a partial breather before the flat from km 4.5 to km 4.9, so the real difficulty lies mostly in that central block.
Tips for pacing the climb:
1. Save something for later. On the opening kilometres at 1-3%, keep a steady rhythm so you reach the central block with some legs left.
2. Stay smooth in the 8-9% block. Between km 1.5 and km 3.5, stay in the saddle if you can, spin a supple cadence and hold a steady effort rather than burning matches on surges.
3. Recover on the easier stretches. Use km 3.5 to km 4.5 (2% then 4%) to get the legs turning again and recover before the final flat, up to km 4.9.
4.9 km • 233 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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