Grünegg Passhöhe

Overview

Grünegg Passhöhe is a category 4 climb that trades brutality for rhythm. Over its 7 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 312 m to a summit of 543 m, a net gain of 231 m. The average gradient sits at a modest 3.32%, which places it firmly in the tempo bracket rather than the survival bracket. This is a climb you ride through, not one you merely endure — the kind of ascent where good pacing and a steady cadence matter more than raw power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline numbers hide an important detail. A 3.32% average across 7 km sounds featureless, but the max gradient of 9.45% tells you the road is not uniform. Because net gain is 231 m while the total ascent is only 210 m, the profile includes small dips or false flats where the road briefly gives back a little height before climbing again — the difference between those two figures is 21 m of settling that punctuates the ascent.

Expect a gentle opening that lets you find your legs, a middle that flirts with the steepest ramps up toward 9.45%, and stretches where the gradient eases back below the 3.32% average. Read the road ahead: the pitch changes are the story here.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this shallow, discipline beats ambition. Because most of the ascent hovers below your threshold, resist the urge to hammer the early kilometres. Aim to ride the sustained sections just under your FTP, then allow yourself to push into the 9.45% ramps knowing they are short.

If you have never measured your threshold, run your numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle this one — pacing a 3.32% climb correctly depends on knowing exactly where your sustainable ceiling sits. Ride the flatter kilometres a touch harder to keep momentum, and save a little for the steepest pitch rather than emptying the tank early.

Gearing

You will not need anything exotic here. For most riders a compact chainset paired with a 34×32 gives ample range to spin the 9.45% max without grinding. If you carry endurance kilometres in your legs or prefer a lighter touch, a 34×34 buys you a slightly easier gear for the steepest ramp and keeps your cadence high across the 7 km. Either setup lets you sit and spin through the 3.32% average rather than muscling it standing up. Choose the 34×34 if you value comfort over the full distance; the 34×32 is plenty if you like a firmer gear underfoot.

Summary

Grünegg Passhöhe rewards smooth, disciplined riding over brute force. At 7 km and 3.32% it is an approachable category 4 test with just enough pitch — that 9.45% max — to keep you honest.

Length: 7 km
Average gradient: 3.32%
Max gradient: 9.45%
Start: 312 m
Summit: 543 m
Net gain: 231 m
Total ascent: 210 m
Category: 4