Hirzel Pass

Overview

Hirzel Pass is a Category 3 climb in Switzerland (CH), running 6.1 km from a start elevation of 401 m to a summit at 667 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 266 m, placing it firmly in the short-but-honest bracket: long enough to demand a real pacing plan, short enough that you can afford to commit to it once you know the profile.

The number that shapes the whole ride is the gap between net gain and total work. While the net elevation gain is 266 m, the total ascent is 375 m. That 109 m difference is climbing you do twice — metres you gain, give back on a dip or false flat, then have to earn again. Undulation like this inflates the real cost of the climb well beyond what the net figure suggests, so treat the 375 m of total ascent, not the 266 m net, as your true workload.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.38% average gradient is a poor guide to how Hirzel Pass actually rides. An average this modest, spread across a climb with 109 m of hidden re-climbing, means the road is not a steady drag — it is broken into pitches with recovery in between, and the average is dragged down by those flatter and downhill sections. The steepest ramp hits 11.53%, more than double the average, so the effort is concentrated rather than uniform.

• Flatter and recovery sections that pull the average down and let you reset between efforts
• Repeated short climbs — the hallmark of that net-versus-total gap
• A steepest ramp of 11.53% where you will be well out of the saddle or grinding a low gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing an even speed is a trap: holding the same pace over the 11.53% ramp forces a spike that torches your legs for the sections that follow. Pace to even effort instead. Anchor your effort to a sustainable power output you can hold for the full 6.1 km, let your speed rise on the flatter recovery sections, and accept that it will drop on the steep pitches. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first, then ride the steep ramps just under threshold and use the dips to genuinely recover rather than to push.

Gearing

The governing number here is the 11.53% maximum gradient. On a pitch that steep — repeated across an undulating profile — you want a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette, something like a 34×32 or 34×34, so you can hold a smooth cadence instead of grinding to a standstill. Check your setup before the ride, not at the base of the steepest ramp.

Summary

• Length: 6.1 km
• Average gradient: 4.38%
• Maximum gradient: 11.53%
• Net elevation gain: 266 m
• Total ascent: 375 m
• Category: 3

Hirzel Pass reads easy on paper and rides harder in the legs. Respect the 375 m of total ascent, pace to even effort, gear for the 11.53% ramp, and the Category 3 label will match your experience of it.