Grünenbergpass

Overview

Grünenbergpass is a Category 1 climb in Switzerland, running 8.3 km from a start elevation of 912 m to a summit at 1,566 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 654 m at an average gradient of 7.87%. On paper, that profile reads like a steady, sustained European pass: long enough to matter, steep enough to hurt, and squarely in Category 1 territory.

The number to watch is the gap between the 654 m of net gain and the 812 m of total ascent. That 158 m difference means the road does not climb cleanly. Somewhere on the way up you give back elevation and re-earn it, so you are actually climbing 812 m of vertical while only advancing 654 m toward the summit. Every metre lost to a dip or descent is a metre you have to pay for twice, which makes the effort harder than the headline average suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 7.87% average hides a lot on a road this uneven. With a maximum gradient of 35.4%, the steepest ramp is more than four times the average, so long stretches must sit well below 7.87% to balance the extreme pitches out. Expect the difficulty to be front-loaded onto a few short, savage sections rather than spread evenly.

• Flatter or descending sections that account for the 158 m of re-climbing and drag the average down
• Repeated short climbs where you lose rhythm and have to re-accelerate a stalled cadence
• A single steepest ramp near 35.4% that will overwhelm any pacing plan built on averages

Pacing Notes

Do not pace this climb to an even speed. The undulation makes that impossible without spiking your effort on every rise. Instead, pace to an even effort just below your sustainable power output, holding steady watts through the flatter sections and accepting that your speed will surge on the descents and crater on the ramps.

If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before riding. On a climb with 158 m of hidden re-climbing, going too deep on an early ramp leaves nothing for the next one.

Gearing

The 35.4% maximum gradient governs your setup entirely. A standard road compact will not be enough here. Fit a sub-compact or compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette, and lean toward the easier end, something like a 34×32 or 34×34, so you can keep the pedals turning on the steepest pitch instead of grinding to a stall. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride, not at the base of the wall.

Summary

• Length: 8.3 km
• Average gradient: 7.87%
• Maximum gradient: 35.4%
• Net elevation gain: 654 m
• Total ascent: 812 m
• Category: 1

Grünenbergpass is a short but uncompromising Category 1 climb. The average understates it, the undulation compounds it, and the steepest ramp will punish anyone who arrives under-geared or over-cooked. Respect the numbers, pace to effort, and gear low.