Predel Pass (from Kranjska Gora)
Category 115 km
Distance
780 m
Elevation Gain
5.2%
Average Gradient
12%
Max Gradient
Predel Pass (1,156m) connects the Soca valley to the Kranjska Gora basin via a beautiful forested climb through the Klin valley — a pass used commercially for centuries and now carrying very little motorised traffic. From Kranjska Gora, the road heads south toward Rateče before turning into the climb proper at the junction with the Soča valley road. The ascent is steady and rhythmic, averaging just over 5%, with a final steeper section through the Napoleon Fortress at the summit — an Austrian defensive fortification from the Napoleonic Wars whose walls still bracket the road. The descent to Bovec and the Soča valley is fast and open. Predel is the logical return leg for anyone riding the Vrsic-Soča-Predel circuit from Kranjska Gora.
Pro Tip
The Napoleon Fortress at the summit is accessible by foot from the road and worth the five-minute detour for its historical context — the pass was a key strategic point in both the Napoleonic and First World War campaigns that defined this region. Combining Vrsic ascent with Predel return from Kranjska Gora gives 110km and 1,700m — a day that would constitute a solid training ride for any WorldTour stagiaire.