Holzegg

Overview

Holzegg is a hors catégorie (HC) climb in Switzerland, packing serious vertical into a compact 8.6 km. From a start elevation of 455 m it tops out at a summit of 1383 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 928 m. At an average gradient of 10.79%, this is a relentless ascent that offers little in the way of genuine flat road, and its HC rating is earned through sustained steepness rather than sheer length.

The stat that shapes the whole effort is the gap between net elevation gain and total ascent. You gain 928 m net, but the climb makes you ascend 1028 m in total — an extra 100 m of climbing hidden inside dips and false flats. That means roughly 100 m of descending is stitched into the route, and every metre you drop must be re-climbed. Undulation like this breaks rhythm, spikes power on the ramps out of each dip, and makes the climb feel harder than its net profile suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 10.79% is already steep, but averages flatten the story. On Holzegg the mean is dragged down by the recovery dips, which means the climbing pitches sit well above 10.79% — and the steepest ramp bites at 24.01%. Expect the gradient to swing rather than hold steady.

• Short descending or false-flat sections that interrupt the climb and cost rhythm
• Repeated punchy pitches that must be re-attacked after each dip
• Sustained double-digit grades across the bulk of the ascent
• A brutal steepest ramp reaching 24.01% where power spikes hard

Pacing Notes

On a steady climb you can hold even effort and let speed drift. Holzegg's undulation makes that harder: the dips tempt you to coast, and the ramps out of them punish anyone who lets power sag. Aim for even effort, not even speed — hold a target just under your sustainable power output on the steady sections, and accept short, controlled surges above it on the 24.01% ramp rather than blowing up trying to smooth them out. Do not chase a constant pace; the terrain won't allow it.

If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target for the day.

Gearing

The 24.01% maximum gradient governs your setup, not the average. On pitches this steep, a standard compact may not be enough. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 as a minimum — so you can keep cadence up instead of grinding to a stall. Check your chainset and cassette before you ride; discovering you're overgeared on a 24% ramp is not a mistake you can fix mid-climb.

Summary

• Length: 8.6 km
• Average gradient: 10.79%
• Maximum gradient: 24.01%
• Net elevation gain: 928 m
• Total ascent: 1028 m
• Category: HC

Holzegg is short, steep, and unforgiving. Respect the undulation, gear low for the 24.01% ramp, and pace to effort — that's how you get to the 1383 m summit intact.