Chänelpass

Overview

Chänelpass is a hors catégorie (HC) climb in Switzerland, running 8 km from a base at 803 m to a summit of 1,810 m. Over that distance it delivers 1,007 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 12.58%. That is an exceptionally steep sustained average — most riders will treat this as one of the hardest climbs they attempt, not a warm-up.

The number that matters most here is the gap between net elevation gain and total ascent. You climb 1,007 m net, but the road actually forces 1,184 m of total ascent — a difference of 177 m of extra climbing swallowed by short descents and dips along the way. That undulation means the effort is choppier than a single steady average suggests: you pay to climb ground you then give back, and the recovery those descents offer is minimal at these gradients.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 12.58% average on an undulating profile hides a wide spread of gradients. Because the road loses and regains 177 m across the ascent, some sections are flatter or even downhill, which means the pitches that carry the climb are steeper than the average implies. Expect the effort to arrive in punches rather than a smooth grind.

• Short flatter or descending sections that briefly drop below the average and offer thin recovery
• Repeated stacked ramps that reset your legs before you have fully recovered
• The steepest ramp, well into double digits, where you will be out of the saddle at threshold

Pacing Notes

On a steady climb you would pace by even effort. Chänelpass's undulation complicates that: holding even speed would spike your power on every ramp and waste it on the dips. Pace instead by even effort anchored to your sustainable power output, letting speed rise and fall with the gradient. Cap your surges on the steepest ramps so you do not blow up before the summit at 1,810 m. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you commit to this one.

Gearing

Gearing here is governed by the steep ramps, not the average. Run a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low-cadence escape ratio you will need on the steepest pitches. On a climb this steep, being under-geared means walking. Check your setup before the ride, not at the base.

Summary

• Length: 8 km
• Average gradient: 12.58%
• Net elevation gain: 1,007 m
• Total ascent: 1,184 m
• Category: HC

Chänelpass is a short climb by distance but an HC effort by any honest measure: 8 km at 12.58% with 1,184 m of total ascent. Respect the undulation, gear low, and pace by effort — the summit rewards riders who plan for the ramps rather than the average.