Ächerlipass

Overview

The Ächerlipass is a Category 1 climb that asks for patience and honest legs. Over 13.9 km it averages 7.26%, lifting you from a start elevation of 450 m to a summit at 1462 m. That is a net gain of 1012 m, with 998 m of total ascent packed into a single sustained effort. A 7.26% mean is the kind of grade that never lets you coast into recovery — there are no long false flats to hide behind here, and the max pitch of 17.4% guarantees at least one moment where the road rears up and tests your composure.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of this climb as a long, steady staircase with one or two sharp risers. The 7.26% average across 13.9 km tells you the workload is relentless rather than explosive: for well over an hour of climbing, the road tips upward at a grade that steadily drains your reserves. The 17.4% maximum sits well above that average, which means the steepest sections are more than double the mean — a signal that the climb hides ramps where you will need to shift down and dig in. Between those pitches, expect stretches close to or just under the 7.26% figure, where finding a sustainable rhythm is the whole game. The gap between a 998 m total ascent and a 1012 m net gain is small, which confirms this is an almost purely uphill road with virtually no descending relief along the way.

Pacing Notes

Pace the Ächerlipass off your threshold, not your ego. A climb this long rewards riders who settle in early and hold a steady power just under their limit. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a 13.9 km, 7.26% climb, going even slightly too hard in the first few kilometres will cost you dearly when the 17.4% ramp arrives. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. Save a small margin so you can absorb the steepest pitch without blowing apart, then reopen the throttle once the grade eases back toward the 7.26% average.

Gearing

With a 7.26% average and a 17.4% max spread over 13.9 km and 1012 m of climbing, gear low and gear generously. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 is the minimum most riders will want here, giving you a bail-out ratio for the sustained middle sections. If you climb at a lower cadence, run heavier gear, or simply want insurance against the 17.4% pitch, step up to a 34×34 — the extra tooth keeps your legs spinning when the road bites hardest. Over an ascent this long, spinning a low gear beats grinding a big one every time.

Summary

The Ächerlipass is a true sustained Category 1 test: long, steady, and steep enough at its worst to demand respect. Pace it off your threshold, gear low, and let the 7.26% average do its slow work on your legs.

Length: 13.9 km
Average gradient: 7.26%
Max gradient: 17.4%
Start: 450 m
Summit: 1462 m
Net gain: 1012 m
Total ascent: 998 m
Category: 1