A false flat is a road segment that appears flat but actually has a slight uphill gradient. It can trick athletes into misjudging effort and pacing.
False flats are small inclines that rise approximately 1–3%. They are unrecognizable but can fatigue and slow you down if you run on them as you would on flat ground. False flats should be identified by cyclists and runners so that during the climb, they can switch gear or pace to avoid exhaustion. False flats typically occur on long and hilly routes and can influence the forming of groups or the occurrence of breaks. Training on variously terrained routes teaches runners and cyclists how to detect these small rises and conserve energy on these challenging places.
