Hundskehljoch

Overview

Hundskehljoch is one of the longest efforts you can point a road bike at: 39.1 km of near-continuous climbing that lifts you from 549 m at the base to a summit of 2545 m. That is 1996 m of net elevation gain, with a total ascent of 1959 m once you account for the handful of shallow dips along the way. The headline average of 5.11% sounds civil, but at nearly forty kilometres in length this is a genuine hors catégorie (HC) monster — the hardest rating on the scale before you run out of categories entirely. The difficulty here is not any single wall; it is the sheer duration of time spent going up.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Read the numbers carefully and the shape of the climb reveals itself. A 5.11% average stretched across 39.1 km means long, metronomic sections where you simply settle into a rhythm and grind. But the 31.41% maximum gradient tells you the road does not stay polite. Somewhere in those 1996 m of gain, the surface kicks up to a pitch so steep it is barely rideable — a ramp more than six times harsher than the average. Expect the gradient to seesaw: patches of gentle 3-4% drag that let you recover, punctuated by abrupt steepenings that force you out of the saddle. With a net gain of 1996 m against a total ascent of 1959 m, the profile is overwhelmingly one-directional — there is very little free downhill to coast on.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Your FTP is the number that matters here, because you will be riding close to a sustainable tempo for well over an hour. Ride the opening kilometres deliberately under threshold — the temptation to chase the low average gradient early is the classic mistake, and it will cost you dearly when the 31.41% ramp arrives with your legs already loaded. Treat the steep pitches as short, controlled surges rather than all-out efforts, then immediately settle back to tempo on the shallower drags. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target for the full 39.1 km. Fuel early and often; 1996 m of climbing burns through reserves relentlessly.

Gearing

Gear for the maximum, not the average. A 31.41% ramp will humble any setup, so give yourself the widest cassette you can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is the sensible baseline, but on a climb of this length and steepness a 34×34 is the smarter call — that extra sprocket buys you cadence when your legs are 30 km deep. If your rear derailleur can handle even more range, take it. Spinning a low gear over 39.1 km preserves the muscular endurance you will desperately need near the 2545 m summit.

Summary

Hundskehljoch is an endurance test first and a gradient test second: massive length, a deceptively modest average, and a savage maximum pitch waiting to catch the impatient. Pace it, gear low, and respect the distance.

Length: 39.1 km
Average gradient: 5.11%
Max gradient: 31.41%
Start: 549 m
Summit: 2545 m
Net gain: 1996 m
Total ascent: 1959 m
Category: HC