This paper explores the features of the Weiland model as a gyro-Bohm Critical Gradient Model (CGM). The characteristic feature of a CGM is that whenever a threshold value in the temperature gradient is surpassed the transport switches from a low to a high level. In CGM, the reformulated Weiland diffusivities are given by χ = χgB χs(R/LT - R/LT,th)α + χgB χ0, where α = 1/2–3/2, roughly depending on the height above threshold. In empirical CGM a = 1 is the norm, which was shown to hold also for the Weiland model for a wide range of R/LT at constant threshold. In this paper the critical gradient response of the Weiland model is studied in realistic scenarios where all temperatures and thresholds respond to the increasing heating. It turns out that in this case we are sufficiently far above the threshold to assume α = 1/2. The simulations of the plasma response to increasing electron or ion heating, yield the Weiland model as a stiff model. The change in (R/LT - R/LT,th)1/2 is moderate compared to the large variation in the heating powers. A correlation between higher ion stiffness and a stronger trapped electron mode drive of the ion diffusivity, was observed. Heat pinches were shown to distort the evaluation of the background transport and give χ0 < 0.