Drusentor

Overview

Drusentor is an HC-category climb in Switzerland, running 11.7 km from a start elevation of 1,327 m to a summit at 2,296 m. Over that distance it delivers 969 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 8.28%. That combination — near double-digit average across almost twelve kilometres, topping out well above 2,000 m — puts it firmly in the hardest tier of paved ascents, and it should be treated as a full-effort objective rather than a warm-up.

The headline net gain of 969 m understates the work. Total ascent on the climb is 1,538 m, which means roughly 569 m of the ride is repeated climbing after intervening descents (1,538 − 969). That gap is undulation: the road gives back elevation you've already earned, then makes you climb it again. Expect a route that pitches up, briefly relents or drops, and pitches up once more. The practical cost is more matches burned than the average suggests, and less benefit from momentum than a steady grade would offer.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 8.28% average is a blended figure that hides both the recovery dips and the walls. With 569 m of undulation folded into the profile, the steep sections must be considerably steeper than 8.28% to compensate for the flatter and descending stretches — and they are, with the sharpest ramp hitting 27.09%.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly descends, resetting your rhythm
• Repeated short climbs stacking back onto the profile after each dip
• A brutal steepest ramp at 27.09% that will spike your effort well beyond threshold

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like Drusentor, chase even effort, not even speed. Holding a constant pace forces you to overspend on the steep pitches and coast the flatter ones — exactly backwards. Instead, hold a steady, sustainable power output on the shallower gradients and accept that the 27% ramp will briefly push you above it; the recovery dips are where you settle back down, not where you attack.

Know your numbers before you start. Run the FTP estimator to set a realistic target, then ride the flatter kilometres a touch under it so you have headroom for the walls without cracking.

Gearing

The 27.09% maximum gradient governs your gearing choice. A standard setup will have you grinding at unsustainable torque on that ramp. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — 34×32 or 34×34 at minimum — so you can keep the cranks turning rather than lurching to a standstill. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you're over-geared at the base of a 27% wall is not a mistake you can fix mid-climb.

Summary

• Length: 11.7 km
• Average gradient: 8.28%
• Maximum gradient: 27.09%
• Net elevation gain: 969 m
• Total ascent: 1,538 m
• Category: HC

Drusentor asks for honest pacing and honest gearing. Ride to power, respect the undulation, and carry a low enough gear for the 27% ramp — get those three right and the summit at 2,296 m is well within reach.