Cauberg is a climb of 2.2 kilometers (category 4). The climb finishes at 151 m above sea level. It is located in Valkenburg aan de Geul, Limburg, Nederland. The average gradient is 3.8% with a maximum of 7%. The climb has 83 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: The Cauberg is a short but demanding climb, covering 2.2 km with 83 m of elevation gain and an average gradient of 3.8%. The effort is concentrated between km 0.5 and km 1.5, where the gradient ramps up to 5%, then 6%, the steepest sections of the climb. The km 0.0-0.5 and km 1.5-2.0 sections, at 3%, are more manageable, and the km 2.0-2.2 section, at 0%, offers a flat finish. It's a short, intense effort, rated as a 4th category climb.
Tips for the effort:
1. Don't go out too hard. On the km 0.0-0.5 section at 3%, keep the pace measured so you reach the 5% section between km 0.5 and 1.0 clear-headed and with something left in the tank.
2. Hold a steady cadence through the heart of the climb. Between km 0.5 and km 1.5, where the gradient hits 6%, choose a gear you can turn over smoothly without surging, so you save your breath.
3. Attack in the final stretch. On the km 1.5-2.0 section at 3%, then the flat km 2.0-2.2 section, pick up the pace a little and finish strong all the way to the line.
The Cauberg is the climb in Valkenburg, in the Dutch Limburg, and those who have ridden it describe it as one of the few real climbs in the country. It starts right from the centre of town and hits hard from the get-go, with a posted gradient of 12%. For a rider who's new to it or not in great shape, it's brutal. One witness says he had to go all out, and another saw his heart rate shoot up to 180.
Plenty of cyclists know it from the Amstel Gold Race, where it was the last climb of the race. Philippe Gilbert is often mentioned, as he left his mark on these slopes. Some say it's great to watch the pros, or the amateurs, grinding their way to the top, and people cheering from the roadside are not rare in spring.
Once at the top, riders talk about the views over the green hills of the Heuvelland, hiking trails marked with coloured posts, and maps of the area on site. There are also MTB trails. The area is quiet for a walk, and several people simply call it beautiful to look at.
Valkenburg is often praised for its centre, with its cafés, restaurants and shops, which makes it nice for a stroll before or after the climb. A Christmas market is mentioned, as well as the thermal baths and the Lourdes grotto. The town centre is half an hour from Maastricht.
The downside is the traffic. Some witnesses mention cars, motorbikes and groups of cyclists riding at 50 km/h on a road that isn't reserved for them. One person who came mainly for the nature finds motorised vehicles spoil the calm of the place. Another thinks the surroundings are a bit ugly after the summit, and that the region is very touristy with few activities outside of cycling.
2.2 km • 83 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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