Bürersteig Passhöhe

Overview

Bürersteig Passhöhe is a 7.3 km category 4 climb that starts at 312 m and tops out at 561 m. Over that distance you gain 249 m of net elevation at an average gradient of 3.43%, which places it firmly in the "steady tempo" bracket rather than the leg-breaking category. The total ascent of 225 m sits just below the net gain, telling you this is an almost uninterrupted upward drag — there is very little descending or false-flat give-back once the road turns up. It is the kind of climb you can ride in a single controlled effort, but its length means small pacing errors compound over the full 7.3 km.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 3.43% average, most of the road tilts gently — the sort of grade you can hold seated and in the big ring on a good day. The story of the climb is really the gap between that 3.43% average and the 7.97% maximum. That maximum is more than double the average, so somewhere along the 7.3 km there is a distinct pinch that stands well above the surrounding terrain. Because the total ascent (225 m) tracks so closely to the net gain (249 m), you can expect the incline to be relentless but shallow, with the road banking up toward its 7.97% ramp before easing back to the gentler slopes that carry you to the 561 m summit.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this shape, the danger is going too hard on the easy lower grades and arriving at the 7.97% ramp already over your limit. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on the 3.43% sections, ride just below threshold and let the gradient do the work; save a small reserve for the steep pinch, where you can afford to briefly push over threshold knowing the road relents afterward. If you don't know your threshold power, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first — pacing a 7.3 km effort by feel alone tends to cost you time in the back half.

Gearing

For a 3.43% average with a 7.97% spike, most riders will be comfortable on a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 bottom gear is plenty for the steady stretches and will carry you over the steep pinch without forcing you out of the saddle if your legs are fresh. If you're climbing on tired legs, carrying extra load, or simply prefer to spin, a 34×34 gives you that extra bailout ratio for the 7.97% ramp and keeps your cadence high across the full 7.3 km. Either setup leaves you room to sit and turn a rhythm rather than grinding.

Summary

Bürersteig Passhöhe rewards patience: a long, mostly gentle drag with one sharp reminder in the middle. Ride the 3.43% sections economically, respect the 7.97% pinch, and let a compact gear keep your cadence smooth all the way to 561 m.

Length: 7.3 km
Average gradient: 3.43%
Max gradient: 7.97%
Start: 312 m
Summit: 561 m
Net gain: 249 m
Total ascent: 225 m
Category: 4