Allgaueck

Overview

Allgaueck is a Category 2 climb in Austria, running 10.1 km from base to summit. It starts at 829 m and tops out at 1,313 m, for a net elevation gain of 484 m at an average gradient of 4.8%. On paper that is a moderate, steady grind — the kind of length and average most trained riders can settle into.

The paper number lies, though. While the net gain is 484 m, the total ascent over those 10.1 km is 649 m. That 165 m gap is climbing you do and then give back — the road undulates rather than pointing relentlessly upward. Every metre of descent inside the climb is a metre you have to re-earn, so the actual work exceeds what a simple 4.8% average implies. Plan for the full 649 m in your head, not the 484.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 4.8% average across an undulating profile hides both ends of the spectrum: the flat and descending stretches that pull the average down, and the sharp ramps that push it back up. The steepest recorded pitch hits 20.14% — more than four times the average — so there are sections where the road briefly turns brutal.

Expect the profile to break down roughly like this:

• Flatter and downhill sections where you recover and can carry speed
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back rather than one continuous wall
• A steepest ramp touching 20.14%, where cadence collapses if you are overgeared

Pacing Notes

On a climb this lumpy, chasing an even speed is a trap — you would burn matches on every ramp and coast the flats. Aim instead for even effort. Hold a steady sustainable power output through the steep pitches, let your speed rise naturally on the flat and descending sections, and resist the urge to push there.

The undulation means power spikes on the 20.14% ramp are unavoidable, so budget for them. Know your ceiling before you start: run the FTP estimator and set a target you can defend through 649 m of accumulated climbing, not just the 484 m of net gain.

Gearing

The 20.14% maximum ramp is what governs your setup, not the 4.8% average. On a pitch that steep you need low gears to keep the cranks turning and your knees intact. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you room to spin rather than grind. Check your actual chainring and cassette before the ride; discovering you are overgeared halfway up a 20% wall is not the place to find out.

Summary

• Length: 10.1 km
• Average gradient: 4.8%
• Maximum gradient: 20.14%
• Net elevation gain: 484 m
• Total ascent: 649 m
• Category: 2

Allgaueck rewards riders who respect the gap between its average and its ramps. Pace it by effort, gear it for the steep, and treat the 649 m of total ascent as the real number to prepare for.