Kreuzbergpass

Overview

Kreuzbergpass is a short climb that hits hard. Over just 6.1 km it averages a punishing 10.35% and gains 633 m, lifting you from a start elevation of 847 m to a summit at 1480 m. That combination — barely six kilometres paired with a double-digit average — puts it firmly in category 1 territory, one rung below hors catégorie. There is no long approach to hide behind and no gentle warm-up written into the profile. From the moment the road tilts up, the gradient stays high and the effort stays constant. This is a climb you feel in your legs almost immediately, and the numbers explain why: an average above 10% for the full distance is rare enough that it earns real respect.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining trait of Kreuzbergpass is its consistency. With a 10.35% average and a maximum of 15.38%, the spread between the typical slope and the steepest ramp is modest — this is not a climb that lulls you with flat sections and then ambushes you. Instead, the difficulty is spread evenly across all 6.1 km. Expect the road to sit near or above 10% for long stretches, spiking toward that 15.38% maximum on the sharpest ramps. Because the net elevation gain of 633 m and the total ascent of 617 m are so close, there is almost no descending or false flat within the climb to hand back free recovery. What goes up, keeps going up.

Pacing Notes

The trap on a climb this steep and this uniform is starting too hard. With no respite built into the profile, going into the red early has a steep cost, and there is no flat section later to bail you out. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a steady, sustainable power rather than surging on the ramps toward 15.38%. Riders who parcel the effort evenly across the 6.1 km almost always finish faster than those who attack the lower slopes. If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target, then aim to sit just below that line and let the summit come to you.

Gearing

Gear for the average, not the maximum. At a sustained 10.35%, most riders will want the widest cassette they can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible baseline for strong climbers, giving you enough range to spin through the bulk of the 6.1 km without grinding. If you are carrying fatigue, riding at altitude, or simply prefer to keep your cadence up on the 15.38% ramps, step up to a 34×34 setup for that extra margin. Given how little the gradient relents across the whole climb, erring toward the easier gearing is rarely a mistake here.

Summary

Kreuzbergpass is a compact, uncompromising category 1 climb: short enough to attack, steep enough to punish, and consistent enough that pacing discipline decides your day. Respect the average, gear for the ramps, and hold your line to the top.

Length: 6.1 km
Average gradient: 10.35%
Max gradient: 15.38%
Start: 847 m
Summit: 1480 m
Net gain: 633 m
Total ascent: 617 m
Category: 1