Hochrindl

Overview

Hochrindl is a Category 1 climb in Austria, running 12 km from a start elevation of 858 m to a summit at 1,613 m. Over that distance it delivers 755 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 6.29%. On paper that reads as a steady, mid-length ascent — the kind of climb you can settle into and grind out.

The paper number lies. Against 755 m of net gain, the route racks up 1,100 m of total ascent. That 345 m gap between what you climb and what you keep is undulation: you are giving back roughly 345 m in descents and false flats and then re-climbing it. Every metre you lose has to be paid for twice, so the effort is meaningfully harder than a smooth 6.29% grade would suggest.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.29% average is a blended figure that hides both easier sections and pitches far steeper than the mean. With over a third of the total ascent coming from re-climbs, expect the road to break rhythm repeatedly rather than climb at one constant angle. The single steepest ramp bites at 23.58% — a wall that dwarfs the average and demands you have gearing in reserve.

• Flatter recovery sections and short descents where the road gives back elevation
• Repeated short climbs stacked on top of each other, adding up to the extra ascent
• A brutal steepest ramp of 23.58% that will shift you well out of your comfort zone

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like Hochrindl, chasing an even speed is a trap: to hold a constant pace across the steep ramps you would have to spike your power far above threshold, and you will pay for it later. Instead, pace to an even effort. Anchor your ride to your sustainable power output and hold that target through the steep pitches even as your speed drops, then let the pace recover on the flatter sections rather than forcing it. If you do not know your number yet, run the FTP estimator before you go so you have a ceiling to ride under on the 23.58% ramp.

Gearing

That 23.58% maximum gradient dictates your setup, not the 6.29% average. Bring a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 — so you have a bailout gear low enough to spin, not stall, when the road kicks up. Check your drivetrain before the ride: confirm the cassette and chainrings you think you have are actually fitted, and that the chain shifts cleanly into the largest sprocket under load.

Summary

• Length: 12 km
• Average gradient: 6.29%
• Maximum gradient: 23.58%
• Net elevation gain: 755 m
• Total ascent: 1,100 m
• Category: 1

Hochrindl is a Category 1 test where the undulation, not the average, defines the day. Respect the 345 m of extra ascent, gear for the steepest wall, and ride to effort rather than speed — do that and 12 km of broken rhythm becomes manageable.