Chatzenstrick

Overview

Chatzenstrick is a long, patient climb rather than a wall. Over 21.3 km it gains 649 m of net elevation, lifting you from a start at 399 m to a summit at 1048 m. Spread across that distance the average gradient is a modest 3.05%, the kind of number that suggests a rolling drag more than a leg-breaker. But averages hide the story here: the total ascent is 707 m, meaning you climb 58 m more than the net figure implies. That extra pitching up and down tells you the road is not uniform, and the max gradient of 19.8% confirms it. This is a category 3 climb — not the hardest tier, but long enough to demand respect and honest pacing.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the arithmetic and the character emerges. A net gain of 649 m over 21.3 km would sit around 3%, yet the profile records 707 m of total ascent. Those extra 58 m come from stretches that flatten, dip, or briefly descend before rising again. So while the headline gradient reads 3.05%, you will rarely feel exactly that. Long shallow sections let your legs recover, then the road tilts up sharply — the 19.8% max gradient means at least one ramp is genuinely steep, the sort where you are out of the saddle whether you planned to be or not. Expect a climb of contrasts: cruising tempo interrupted by short, punishing kicks that spike your effort well above the average.

Pacing Notes

Because the average is gentle but the peaks are severe, the smart approach is to ride the flatter kilometres conservatively and save something for the ramps. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on the shallow drags, sit comfortably below threshold and let the low 3.05% gradient carry you; on the 19.8% pitches, accept that you will surge over threshold for short bursts and simply ride through them. Over 21.3 km, the riders who blow up are the ones who chase a steady power number and then have nothing left when the road bites. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go — knowing your real ceiling turns those steep ramps from a guessing game into a managed effort.

Gearing

The 3.05% average will not trouble most setups, but the 19.8% max is where gearing decides your day. For a climb this long with a spike this steep, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most trained riders over the ramps while keeping a usable cadence on the flatter stretches. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry fatigue from a long day, or simply want insurance against the 19.8% wall, step up to a 34×34 — that extra cog buys you the spinning gear that keeps 21.3 km from grinding you down. When in doubt on a climb with a steep max, choose the easier ratio.

Summary

Chatzenstrick rewards patience: a long 21.3 km approach at a friendly 3.05% average, punctuated by a fierce 19.8% ramp that punishes anyone who arrives already spent. Pace it in two registers, gear for the steep bits, and the 1048 m summit is well within reach.

Length: 21.3 km
Average gradient: 3.05%
Max gradient: 19.8%
Start: 399 m
Summit: 1048 m
Net gain: 649 m
Total ascent: 707 m
Category: 3