These times come from the physical power model by Martin and colleagues (1998), the same one behind the calculator on each climb’s page and the climb time calculator. For each climb we start from the length, the elevation gain and, where we have it, the section-by-section profile on its page. Watts are W/kg × 72 kg (watts per kilo is always calculated in kilograms): 144 W at 2 W/kg, 180 W at 2.5, 216 W at 3, 252 W at 3.5, 288 W at 4 and 360 W at 5 W/kg.
Climb time by your W/kg
Sorted from the shortest climb to the longest at 3 W/kg.
| Climb and start | Length, grade and gain | 2 W/kg | 2.5 W/kg | 3 W/kg | 3.5 W/kg | 4 W/kg | 5 W/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bola del Mundo, from Puerto de Navacerrada | 2.0 mi (3.2 km) at 12.5%, 1,316 ft (401 m) | 39 min | 31 min | 26 min | 23 min | 20 min | 16 min |
| Sa Calobra, from the cove | 6.3 mi (10.1 km) at 7.0%, 2,313 ft (705 m) | 1 h 13 min | 59 min | 50 min | 43 min | 38 min | 32 min |
| Lagos de Covadonga, from Cangas de Onís | 8.7 mi (14.0 km) at 7.4%, 3,406 ft (1,038 m) | 1 h 46 min | 1 h 25 min | 1 h 12 min | 1 h 02 min | 55 min | 46 min |
| Alpe d’Huez, from Le Bourg-d’Oisans | 8.6 mi (13.8 km) at 8.1%, 3,675 ft (1,120 m) | 1 h 53 min | 1 h 31 min | 1 h 16 min | 1 h 06 min | 58 min | 48 min |
| Zoncolan, from Ovaro | 6.3 mi (10.1 km) at 11.9%, 3,947 ft (1,203 m) | 1 h 58 min | 1 h 35 min | 1 h 19 min | 1 h 08 min | 1 h 00 min | 49 min |
| Angliru, from La Vega (Riosa) | 7.7 mi (12.4 km) at 10.2%, 4,154 ft (1,266 m) | 2 h 05 min | 1 h 41 min | 1 h 25 min | 1 h 13 min | 1 h 04 min | 52 min |
| Galibier, from Valloire | 11.2 mi (18.1 km) at 6.9%, 4,085 ft (1,245 m) | 2 h 07 min | 1 h 42 min | 1 h 26 min | 1 h 15 min | 1 h 07 min | 55 min |
| Mortirolo, from Mazzo di Valtellina | 7.7 mi (12.4 km) at 10.5%, 4,265 ft (1,300 m) | 2 h 10 min | 1 h 44 min | 1 h 27 min | 1 h 15 min | 1 h 06 min | 53 min |
| Tourmalet, from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan | 10.7 mi (17.2 km) at 7.4%, 4,160 ft (1,268 m) | 2 h 10 min | 1 h 45 min | 1 h 28 min | 1 h 16 min | 1 h 08 min | 56 min |
| Gavia, from Bormio | 15.8 mi (25.4 km) at 5.6%, 4,695 ft (1,431 m) | 2 h 30 min | 2 h 02 min | 1 h 44 min | 1 h 31 min | 1 h 21 min | 1 h 07 min |
| Mont Ventoux, from Bédoin | 13.2 mi (21.3 km) at 7.5%, 5,259 ft (1,603 m) | 2 h 42 min | 2 h 11 min | 1 h 51 min | 1 h 36 min | 1 h 25 min | 1 h 10 min |
| Colle delle Finestre, from Susa | 11.5 mi (18.5 km) at 9.1%, 5,558 ft (1,694 m) | 2 h 51 min | 2 h 18 min | 1 h 56 min | 1 h 40 min | 1 h 28 min | 1 h 11 min |
| Stelvio, from Prato allo Stelvio | 15.4 mi (24.8 km) at 7.4%, 6,056 ft (1,846 m) | 3 h 07 min | 2 h 31 min | 2 h 07 min | 1 h 50 min | 1 h 37 min | 1 h 20 min |
| Teide, from Puerto de la Cruz | 28.3 mi (45.5 km) at 5.2%, 7,697 ft (2,346 m) | 4 h 14 min | 3 h 27 min | 2 h 57 min | 2 h 35 min | 2 h 19 min | 1 h 57 min |
| Pico Veleta, from Cenes de la Vega | 24.5 mi (39.4 km) at 6.7%, 8,645 ft (2,635 m) | 4 h 38 min | 3 h 45 min | 3 h 09 min | 2 h 44 min | 2 h 26 min | 2 h 00 min |
Assumptions behind the numbers
| Input | Value we use |
|---|---|
| Rider | 159 lb (72 kg) |
| Bike, bottles and clothing | 21 lb (9.5 kg), for 180 lb (81.5 kg) in total |
| Position | Hands on the tops of the bars, CdA 0.40 m² |
| Rolling resistance | Normal pavement, Crr 0.0045; a little more on the Finestre and Veleta for their dirt sections |
| Air | No wind, 59 °F (15 °C) and the air density at the climb’s average altitude |
| Drivetrain losses | 2.5% |
| Pacing | Steady power from bottom to top, no stops |
How to read the chart
- These are nonstop times at a steady pace. A photo stop on a hairpin, a refill or a stretch on someone’s wheel all change the clock. In the heat or above about 6,500 ft (2,000 m), the power you can hold drops by 5-10%.
- Your climbing W/kg isn’t your FTP. On a 25-minute climb you can hold a bit more than your FTP; on one over an hour, a bit less (85 to 95% depending on how trained you are). If your FTP is 3.5 W/kg, use the 3 W/kg column for the Stelvio.
- The vertical pace is similar on every climb. At 3 W/kg you gain about 2,600-3,000 ft (800-900 m) per hour on any climb, which is why elevation gain predicts the time better than length.
- If you weigh something else, the chart still works as a guide at the same W/kg. To fine-tune, open the climb’s page: its calculator uses your weight and your bike’s.
To turn your FTP into W/kg, use the watts per kg chart. If it’s your first long climb, the guide to preparing for your first big climb shows how to pace yourself, and the one on gearing for climbing covers the cog you need so you’re not grinding. Every climb, with its profile, is in the climbs section. To bring those times down, the guide to climbing faster explains how to gain W/kg, and if you’re looking for a challenge with several of these climbs, see the big group rides and gran fondos.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb Alpe d'Huez at 3 W/kg?
About 1 h 16 min for a 159 lb (72 kg) rider on a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike, averaging 216 W. At 4 W/kg (288 W) it drops to 58 minutes; at 2.5 W/kg, 1 h 31 min.
Which climb in the chart is the hardest?
By time, Pico Veleta and Teide, with more than 7,500 ft (2,300 m) of climbing: about 3 hours at 3 W/kg. By grade, the Zoncolan (11.9% average) and the Mortirolo and Angliru, all above 10%, which call for very low gearing.
How many W/kg does it take to climb Mont Ventoux in under 1 h 30 min?
About 3.8 W/kg (271 W for a 159 lb rider) from Bédoin. The chart gives 1 h 36 min at 3.5 W/kg and 1 h 25 min at 4 W/kg.
Does the chart work if I weigh more or less than 159 lb?
Yes, with little error: at the same W/kg, a lighter rider takes a bit longer because the bike is a bigger share of the total weight. On Alpe d'Huez at 3 W/kg, a 132 lb (60 kg) rider takes 1 h 18 min and a 187 lb (85 kg) rider 1 h 15 min. For your exact case, open the climb's page or the climb time calculator with your weight.