Kalba loop 72

Route overview

Suits reasonably fit riders comfortable with 72 km and 896 m of climbing in a day.

A 71.8 km loop from Kalba into the Hajar Mountains, with 896 m of climbing and a high point of 468 m.

From Kalba the loop heads inland past the village of Munay at 5.2 km, and the road begins to tilt with a 1.7 km rise at 2.6% topping out at 303 m, passing beneath Jabal Al Miqsha (400 m) at 10.3 km. A second, similar ramp of 1.5 km follows Fayyad at 14.1 km, then the main effort of the day starts at 17.2 km: 2.7 km at 5.7%, with a maximum of 9.3%, gaining 149 m to the route's high point of 468 m at 19.9 km, close to unnamed summits of 812 m and 826 m. The long descent from there runs through Al Uqdah at 30.8 km and on to the suburbs of Al Saaf, Al Ghail and Al Maqt'a, reaching the lowest point of the loop at 11 m by 40 km, where WALFA CAFE and a Starbucks sit beside the road, with Mara Lounge and Habib Beirut a few kilometres further on. The return leg climbs again from 42.6 km, 3.5 km at 4.8% to 197 m, then two shorter rises of 1.7 km and 1.8 km either side of Minazif and Al Qilē'ī, the second topping 295 m below a 556 m peak, before the run back down to Kalba. Some 43% of the total climbing comes in the first half.

Highlights

• 2.7 km at 5.7% to the 468 m high point at km 19.9
• Beneath Jabal Al Miqsha (400 m) and peaks of 812 m and 826 m
• Cafés and restaurants clustered near sea level around km 40

Practical information

Surface

Paved

Route shape

Loop

Riding time

2½–4 hours riding

Season

The single recording is from May, at 29 °C, so cooler months are likely more comfortable.

Know before you go

• Maximum gradient of 9.3% on the main climb
• No cafés listed in the first 40 km of the loop
• Recorded at 29 °C in May; heat is a factor

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.