Foopass

Overview

Foopass is an HC (hors catégorie) climb in Switzerland, covering 9.8 km from a start elevation of 857 m to a summit at 1,924 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 1,067 m at an average gradient of 10.86%. This is a serious climb by any measure: double-digit average gradients over nearly 10 km put it firmly in the hardest category, and there is no easing into it.

The number that reshapes how you should approach Foopass is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 1,067 m net, but you actually gain 1,264 m across the profile — a difference of 197 m. That extra ascent is undulation: short descents or false flats that force you to reclimb elevation you already earned. On a climb with this much roll, average gradient understates the real cost, because every dip breaks your rhythm and every rebound demands another surge.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 10.86% average is brutal on its own, but it hides the texture. The undulation implied by that 197 m of extra ascent means the gradient is not a smooth ramp — it swings above and below the average repeatedly. Some sections will bite well into the high teens or beyond, while brief descents and flatter stretches drop it toward zero. The maximum pitch reaches 38.48%, a genuinely severe ramp you must be geared and mentally prepared for.

• Short recovery sections and false flats where the road dips or eases — do not waste them
• Repeated short climbs that reclaim the 197 m of lost elevation, each one a fresh effort
• A steepest ramp near 38.48% that will spike your power and cadence if you are caught in the wrong gear

Pacing Notes

Because Foopass rolls rather than ramps steadily, chase even effort, not even speed. Anchor your ride to your sustainable power output and hold that target through the steep pitches, allowing your speed to fall on the ramps rather than burning matches to keep pace. On the brief descents and flatter sections, resist the urge to hammer — soft-pedal and recover so you arrive at the next steep block fresh. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through our FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan.

Gearing

The 38.48% maximum pitch governs your setup. A compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette is essential here — think 34×32 or 34×34 as a floor, not a luxury. That combination lets you spin the steepest ramps instead of grinding to a stall. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are undergeared halfway up an HC wall is not a mistake you can fix on the road.

Summary

• Length: 9.8 km
• Average gradient: 10.86%
• Maximum gradient: 38.48%
• Net elevation gain: 1,067 m
• Total ascent: 1,264 m
• Category: HC

Foopass is a relentless HC climb where the undulation makes it harder than the average suggests. Pace by power, gear for the steepest ramp, and respect the 197 m of reclimbing built into the profile.