From what I have seen, most people don't have appropriate gearing to be able to pace themselves and stay under threshold. I can do that ride on a compact with 11-28 but it is much easier to pace and stay under threshold with an 11-34. Going easier on the climbs allows a better pace elsewhere since you aren't recovering between them.
Must be an ego thing since most riders, probably 90%, don't even have a 3w/kg ftp much less something useful on big climbs. My best riding buddy thinks anything lower than a sub compact with an 11-28 is wuss territory, but yet he was so burned out I dropped him on Hogpen and then finished 1h35m ahead. Been trying to tell him all year...
Oh, and I did PR 32 segments all along the route.
Wasn't planning on doing 6 again but now that I have recovered I just might.