Gadotratte

Overview

Gadotratte is a Category 2 climb in Austria, running 8.6 km from a start elevation of 683 m to a summit at 1,250 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 567 m at an average gradient of 6.58%. On paper that is a steady, mid-tier climb — long enough to matter, but not so long or steep that it reads as brutal from the numbers alone.

The numbers hide something, though. Total ascent is 706 m, which is 139 m more than the net gain of 567 m. That gap is undulation: the road repeatedly gives back altitude and then reclaims it. You pay for those 139 m twice — once losing them, once earning them back — so the actual climbing workload is heavier than the net gain suggests, and the descents interrupt any rhythm you try to settle into.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.58% average is a blend, not a constant. With a maximum gradient of 21.34%, there is at least one pitch more than three times steeper than the average, which means long stretches must sit well below 6.58% to balance it out. Expect a lumpy profile rather than a uniform grind.

• Flatter and downhill sections where you recover and can carry speed
• Repeated short climbs that stack up into the 706 m total ascent
• A steepest ramp reaching 21.34% — the pitch that dictates your gearing

Pacing Notes

On an even climb you pace to a steady sustainable power output and hold it. Gadotratte's undulation breaks that model. Chasing even speed here wastes energy — you would spike power over every short kick and coast the descents. Instead, pace to even effort: let speed rise on the flatter and downhill sections, and keep power controlled on the ramps rather than surging to hold a number. Use the descents to genuinely recover, not to attack. If you do not know your threshold yet, run the FTP estimator first so your effort ceiling on the steep pitches is a real figure, not a guess.

Gearing

The 21.34% maximum is the number that governs your setup. At that gradient, a standard chainset will have you grinding at unsustainable torque. Fit a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you room to spin the steepest ramp instead of muscling it. Check your setup before the ride, not at the base of the climb. Confirm the cassette actually mounts and the rear derailleur handles the largest sprocket.

Summary

• Length: 8.6 km
• Average gradient: 6.58%
• Maximum gradient: 21.34%
• Net elevation gain: 567 m
• Total ascent: 706 m
• Category: 2

Gadotratte rewards riders who respect the gap between its net gain and its total ascent. Pace to effort, gear for the 21.34% ramp, and treat every descent as recovery earned — not distance lost.