Motbakker

Motbakker is a Norwegian term referring to uphill sections of terrain, especially roads and trails, where the slope rises rather than descends. The word is formed from mot (toward/against) and bakke (slope, hill) and is used in everyday language as well as in outdoor and sporting contexts. In cycling, motbakker denotes climbs encountered on routes and races. They are characterized by their length, average gradient, peak gradient, and total elevation gain. Gradients are typically expressed as percentages, and motbakker range from gentle ramps to long, steep ascents that challenge pace, gearing, and stamina. Route descriptions or maps often rate motbakker by distance and grade to help riders prepare and pace themselves.

Beyond cycling, motbakker describe any uphill stretch on hiking paths or roads, where awareness of the incline helps with planning effort and vehicle performance. The term is most widely used in Norwegian-speaking regions. It is understood in neighboring Scandinavian languages with similar but not identical terms, and variations may exist in Danish and Swedish usage.

See also: gradient, climb (cycling).