Biermanstiegel

Overview

The Biermanstiegel is a Category 1 climb in Austria, running 6.8 km from a start elevation of 784 m to a summit at 1,402 m. The net elevation gain is 618 m, and at an average gradient of 9.12% it sits firmly in the range where sustained climbing becomes a lasting effort rather than a quick test. This is a long, steep haul with no gentle warm-up to ease you into it.

What the net gain does not tell you is the full workload. Total ascent on the Biermanstiegel is 960 m, against a net gain of 618 m — a difference of 342 m. That gap means the road undulates: you climb, give some height back, and climb again. Every metre of descent is a metre you have to re-earn, so the actual vertical work is significantly more than the point-to-point figure implies. Plan for the total ascent, not the net.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 9.12% average is a blend, not a constant. Undulation of 342 m tells you there are pitches well above the average and sections that ease off or drop away entirely. The steepest ramp reaches 20.38% — more than double the average — and pitches like that are where a mispaced rider comes undone.

• Flatter or downhill recovery sections where you give back some of your gain
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the 960 m total ascent
• A steepest ramp of 20.38%, roughly twice the average, demanding a decisive gear change

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing even speed is a trap: the steep ramps force your power up while the flatter sections tempt you to coast. Aim instead for even effort. Hold a steady, sustainable power output through the steep pitches and accept that your speed will swing. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go so you have a number to hold against rather than guessing on the road. On the 20.38% ramp, let cadence drop and effort spike briefly — but return to your target on the far side rather than trying to make up lost time.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your gearing choice, and 20.38% is steep enough to demand real range. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a bailout gear for the worst ramps without spinning out on the recovery sections. Check your setup before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up a 20% wall is not the moment to find out.

Summary

• Length: 6.8 km
• Average gradient: 9.12%
• Maximum gradient: 20.38%
• Net elevation gain: 618 m
• Total ascent: 960 m
• Category: 1

The Biermanstiegel rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace to the 960 m of total ascent, gear for the 20.38% ramp, and hold even effort over even speed — do that, and its 618 m of net gain will feel earned rather than survived.