Brünigpass

Overview

The Brünigpass is a Category 2 climb that rewards riders who can hold a rhythm. Over 13.3 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 471 m to a summit of 1019 m, a net gain of 548 m. Factor in the dips and rollers along the way and your legs actually absorb 561 m of total ascent — a small but telling gap that hints this is not a single relentless ramp. The average gradient sits at a moderate 4.11%, the kind of number that flatters the profile and lets you settle into a sustainable effort rather than a survival crawl.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not let that 4.11% average lull you. The climb reaches a maximum of 14.33%, more than three times the average, so the difficulty is concentrated rather than evenly spread. With 561 m of total ascent against only 548 m of net gain, roughly 13 m of the climbing is "given back" on descents or false-flats before being reclaimed. That means the true climbing pitches are steeper than the average implies. Expect stretches that sit well below 4.11% — where you can recover and shift up — punctuated by sharper walls building toward that 14.33% peak. Reading the road ahead matters more here than on a uniformly graded pass.

Pacing Notes

Because the effort is uneven, pacing to power beats pacing to the average gradient. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on the gentler 3–4% sections, ride a touch under threshold to bank energy; on the pitches climbing toward 14.33%, let power spike above FTP briefly rather than blowing your cadence apart. Over 13.3 km the whole climb is long enough that going too deep on an early ramp will cost you disproportionately later. If you are not sure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan target watts for the 548 m of vertical. Aim to crest the 1019 m summit with something in reserve, not empty.

Gearing

The 4.11% average is manageable on almost any gearing, but the 14.33% maximum is where cadence goes to die if you are under-geared. On a compact 34-tooth chainring, a 34×32 lowest ratio is a sensible baseline for the steeper walls and will let most riders spin rather than grind through the toughest metres. If you climb best at a high cadence, prefer sitting over standing, or expect to arrive at the base with tired legs, size up to 34×34 for extra margin on the 14.33% pitches. Given the climb gains 548 m over 13.3 km, the lower option costs you nothing on the flatter thirds and buys real insurance on the sharp ones.

Summary

The Brünigpass is an honest Category 2 climb: a friendly 4.11% average masking a 14.33% bite, best ridden to power and with gearing that respects the steep bits. Pace the 548 m of gain patiently and the 1019 m summit comes to you.

Length: 13.3 km
Average gradient: 4.11%
Max gradient: 14.33%
Start: 471 m
Summit: 1019 m
Net gain: 548 m
Total ascent: 561 m
Category: 2