In Prague as at the Tour de France. Crazy hills in and around the metropolis
Prague also has its nice cycling hills. They may not be that long, but you can definitely train on them. Every cyclist heard about the iconic Řevničák (length 5.5 km ascent 291 m). Great hills are also Točná, Roblín, climbing from Velká Chuchle to Slivenec or through Cikánka to Zadní Kopanina and Ořech. But they all have similar characteristics. They are elongated and do not exceed 6%.
Therefore, we tried to find a few that, if not in length, then at least a percentage approach the famous alpine passes and there is no danger of heavy car traffic. Here is our selection of crazy Prague “stands” for road bikes.
At the Observatory – Velká Chuchle
Length 1.4 km / climb 126 m / 9%
A real delicacy of steep Prague climbs. An unexpectedly long and really steep hill with sections of well over 10% starts at the intersection of Starochuchelská and Na Hvězdárně streets. The first steep ramp ends with a sharp left-handed serpentine, but in the next right-handed ramp it rises a lot again. Then he relaxes again for a moment and tightens behind the crossroads again. Don’t look too far ahead here, the straight section, which is more than 800 m long, rises evenly sharply, and only as a result does it level slightly. Hell ends at the intersection with Nad Chuchlí Street. Take that hill five times and you’re trained.
Na Pláccích – Above Prokop Valley
Length 1 km / climb 98 m / 10%
This hill will literally shoot you from the Prokop Valley to above Prague. It starts behind the bridge over the Dalejský stream with beautiful views of the Prokop Rocks. But believe me, you will soon lose interest in the outlook. The narrow asphalt road first passes the U Prokopa snack bar, then plunges into the greenery and winds endlessly, my restaurant Na Cvičišti and ends by connecting to the road that leads up above the rocks through the beautiful Prague viewpoints. This is one of the longest cycling needs of the entire metropolis.
Mezivrší – Braník
Length 705 m / climb 67 m / 9.5%
The iconic Mezivrší connects the lower and upper Braník. It has practically no turns and without any rest sections it is still heading brutally upwards. Cyclists here leading bicycles. You may say in the second half that an e-bike is not a bad invention at all.
Choteč
Length 586 m / climb 51 m / 8.7%
Alternative 1.2 km / 86 m / 7.4%
Two short, nutritious hills that will brighten up a trip around southwestern Prague. It is shorter and a bit steeper from the end of the village Choteč towards the north to Ořech. The second – only a slightly less steep alternative – leads in the opposite direction from Choteč to the south, in the direction of Třebotov.
Nebozizek – Petrin
Length 531 m / Ascent 65 m / 12.5%
It’s more of a curiosity, but why not try it. Prague’s Mortirolo or Zoncolan, simply The Wall, begins in the upper bend of Hellichova Street and heads sharply up the Seminar Garden to the Nebozízek restaurant. Watch out for pedestrians and try not to get off the bike. At least you won’t get on it anymore.
Pod Žvahovem – Zlíchov
Length 257 m / Ascent 31 m / 12%
Finally, a brutal delicacy for lovers of Belgian classics. You will find a combination of a steep exit with almost unattractive cat heads hidden in old Zlíchov. It starts at the intersection with Nad Zlíchovem Street and leads down Pod Žvahovem Street to the intersection with V Násypu Street. Short, but pretty rough. There is no point in describing it further, it must be tried.
See also: what are the special bikes on the Tour de France: