Hebalm

Overview

Hebalm is a Category 2 climb in Austria, running 9.9 km from a start elevation of 846 m to a summit at 1,412 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 566 m at an average gradient of 5.71%. On paper that reads as a moderate, sustained effort, the kind of climb you can settle into and grind out at a consistent tempo.

The profile tells a more demanding story. Against 566 m of net gain, the climb accumulates 927 m of total ascent, which means roughly 361 m of descent is folded into the route. That gap between net gain and total ascent is undulation: you climb, you give some back, you climb again. The practical effect is that Hebalm asks for more total work than its net numbers suggest, and every metre lost on a descent has to be re-earned on the next ramp.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.71% average is a blend, not a constant. With a maximum gradient of 20.65%, the climb clearly hides pitches far steeper than the average, offset by flatter and descending sections that pull the mean down. Do not pace off the average number alone.

• Flatter and recovery sections, including short descents, that let you spin and eat before the next effort.
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the 927 m of total ascent.
• A steepest ramp hitting 20.65%, where the effort spikes well above anything the average prepares you for.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like Hebalm, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a constant speed forces you deep into the red on every ramp and wastes energy coasting on the descents. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain.

Allow the steep pitches to push you slightly above threshold, then recover on the flatter and downhill sections rather than hammering them. If you do not know your numbers, run the FTP estimator first and anchor your target watts below threshold so you have headroom for the 20.65% wall.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your setup, and at 20.65% you need low gears. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34x32 or 34x34 gives you the ratio to keep a survivable cadence on the steepest ramp without grinding to a standstill.

Check your setup before the ride. Confirm the chainring and cassette combination actually shifts cleanly into that bottom gear; discovering you are one sprocket short halfway up a 20% pitch is not the time to find out.

Summary

• Length: 9.9 km
• Average gradient: 5.71%
• Maximum gradient: 20.65%
• Net elevation gain: 566 m
• Total ascent: 927 m
• Category: 2

Hebalm is a Category 2 climb that punches above its net numbers. The 566 m of net gain understates the 927 m you will actually climb, so pace on effort, gear for the 20.65% ramp, and treat the recoveries as part of the work — not a break from it.