I'd echo much of what's been written here. Try to keep your heart rate in the +/- 80% of max range, spin 80-90 rpm on cadence when ever possible, mash only when necessary, try to keep your pedal stoke as smooth as you can. I keep a mental rhythm in my head in terms of breathing, that tends to keep my HR under control. I also never focus on the "top", just on the "journey". I watch the road to pick the line that affords the smoothest track (that is the least amount of pitch in the climb and corner) as safety, and surrounding riders allow. Seems to work for me.