Ibergeregg

Overview

Ibergeregg is a Category 1 climb in Switzerland that asks a hard question early and never really lets up. Over 11.8 km it averages 8.09%, lifting you from a start elevation of 456 m to a summit at 1408 m. That is 952 m of net elevation gain packed into a climb whose average alone would make most riders wary, and with pitches touching 15.63% it has the teeth to back up the numbers. On the category ladder — HC first, then 1, 2, 3, 4 — a "1" sits just below the hardest tier, and Ibergeregg earns it honestly through sustained steepness rather than a single monster ramp.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency of difficulty. An 8.09% average across 11.8 km means there are very few genuine recovery stretches; the road spends most of its length between demanding and brutal. The gap between the 8.09% average and the 15.63% maximum tells you the story: the hardest ramps are roughly seven and a half points steeper than the norm, so when the gradient bites, it bites hard. Because total ascent (934 m) sits just under net gain (952 m), the profile is almost entirely upward — there is little to no descending or false-flat relief to break the rhythm. Treat every steeper section as a spike above an already-high baseline, not as an isolated event.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this uniform, pacing discipline decides your day. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something sustainable from the base, because 11.8 km at 8.09% will expose anyone who starts too hot. If you don't have a recent number, run the FTP estimator first and set a target power you can defend for the full climb. The smart approach is to ride the 8.09% sections just under threshold and let the 15.63% ramps push you briefly over, then settle again — rather than surging everywhere and blowing before the summit. Net gain of 952 m is a long time to be climbing, so protect your reserves for the upper slopes.

Gearing

Gearing matters more here than raw fitness for most riders. With a sustained 8.09% average and ramps to 15.63%, you want a compact setup and a wide cassette. A 34×32 is a sensible floor for strong climbers, but on 11.8 km of this severity a 34×34 gives you the extra spin to keep cadence up when the gradient spikes — and to survive the back half without grinding. If your legs are in doubt, size down; there is no prize for turning a bigger gear over 952 m of climbing.

Summary

Ibergeregg is a proper test: long, steep, and unrelenting, with steepness that stays high from bottom to top. Come with a plan, a low gear, and respect for the numbers.

Length: 11.8 km
Average gradient: 8.09%
Max gradient: 15.63%
Start: 456 m
Summit: 1408 m
Net gain: 952 m
Total ascent: 934 m
Category: 1