16.8
PDI
16.4 mi
DISTANCE
3,771 ft
GAINED
4 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Switzerland
INTRO
Not many climbs include a passport check. This one leaves the sea at Gemikonağı in the north of Cyprus, rolls up through the town of Lefke, and about 9 km in crosses the UN buffer zone at the Lefka-Apliki checkpoint into the Republic of Cyprus before turning uphill into the Troodos.
From sea level it gains 1149 m (3771 ft) over 26.4 km (16.4 mi), an average of 4.0%, finishing at 1068 m (3504 ft) on the Kykkos road above Gerakies. The first 17 km are a long, gentle drag up the valley, never more than about 4.5% for a kilometer. After that the road starts to loop up the mountainside, and the last 9 km mix kilometers near 9% with short breathers to the top.
The name points to where the road leads. Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of Cyprus, began his church life as a monk at Kykkos Monastery and is buried at Throni, a hilltop 3 km west of it. Our route stops short of both: from the finish it's about 14 km more by road to the tomb - the Kykkos road dips first, then climbs past the monastery to Throni - so riders who want to stand at the grave should plan for a longer day and more climbing.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. 26.4 km (16.4 mi) at 4.0%, gaining 1149 m (3771 ft) from 4 m (12 ft) in Gemikonağı to 1068 m (3504 ft) on the Kykkos road.
Through Gemikonağı and Lefke the road climbs only 1.5 to 4.5% per kilometer, reaching about 225 m (738 ft) at the crossing point near km 9. Beyond it the valley road keeps the same easy rhythm, mostly 3 to 4.5%, to around 530 m (1739 ft) at km 17.
From km 17 the climbing gets serious: a kilometer at 6.5%, one at 3.4%, then the first steep kilometer near 9% as the road loops up toward the Kykkos road. After an easier kilometer the next two run at about 9% and 7.2%, then a near-flat kilometer before the last 2.4 km settle at 4.5 to 6% to the finish at 1068 m (3504 ft).
The steepest half kilometer averages 11.7%, the steepest kilometer 8.9%, the steepest 2 km 7.8% and the steepest 5 km 6.8%.
Roadway: Asphalt from the coast to the finish. In the north the route uses main roads through Gemikonağı and Lefke, then a quieter road to the crossing point. South of the line it climbs on the E908 and then the Kykkos road, a two-lane mountain road with switchbacks on the steep upper section.
Traffic: Busiest on the coast and through Lefke, then light. The Lefka-Apliki crossing is a small checkpoint with a stop on each side: carry your passport (some EU citizens can use a national ID card). The Kykkos road also serves visitors driving to the monastery, so the upper section is quieter early in the day.
Parking: Gemikonağı is a small coastal village - park considerately near the seafront, clear of driveways. If you're bringing a hire car from the Republic of Cyprus, it needs separate insurance to be driven in the north, bought at the crossing point, and some rental companies don't allow it at all - check before you go.
Gear: Nothing here stays much steeper than 9% for a full kilometer, so a compact chainset with an 11-32 cassette covers it. This is a long climb from sea level and it gets hot - in summer, start at dawn - but the finish is over 1000 m (3281 ft), so pack arm warmers for the long run back down.
Provisions: The two sides use different currencies - Turkish lira in the north, euros in the south - so carry a card or some of each. Fill both bottles in Lefke before the crossing and carry food for the climb.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Kalopanagiotis, about a kilometer off the route near km 19, is worth the short detour and makes a quieter base than the coast. Its Monastery of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis is one of the Troodos painted churches on UNESCO's World Heritage list, and the village has places to stay.
If you carry on to the grave, Kykkos Monastery is on the way. It was founded around the end of the 11th century and holds an icon of the Virgin traditionally attributed to Saint Luke; the tomb at Throni is 3 km further west. Dress modestly if you plan to go inside the monastery.
The Lefka-Apliki crossing only opened in November 2018, which is why few riders know this way into the Troodos. For more Cyprus climbing, our Mount Olympus (Trimiklini) page climbs to the highest point on the island.
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