Krischnig

Overview

Krischnig is a Category 1 climb in Austria, running 9.6 km from base to summit. It starts at 437 m and tops out at 1104 m, for a net elevation gain of 667 m at an average gradient of 6.95%. That places it firmly in serious-climb territory: long enough to demand real pacing discipline, steep enough that you cannot bluff your way to the top on fitness alone.

The number that matters most here is the gap between net gain and total work. You climb 667 m net, but the total ascent is 865 m — roughly 198 m of extra climbing you pay for over rollers and re-ascents after short descents. That mismatch tells you the road does not rise cleanly. You will spend energy regaining height you already earned, so the effort feels heavier than a smooth 6.95% grade of the same net gain would.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 6.95% is an accounting figure, not a description of any single moment on the road. The 198 m of undulation means the true gradient swings well above and below that mean. Flatter or descending sections pull the average down, which forces the working pitches higher to compensate.

Expect a profile that reads more like a series of surges than one steady wall:

• Flatter or lightly descending recovery sections that let the average sag below 7%
• Repeated short climbs where you re-ascend ground lost on the descents
• A steepest ramp reaching 20.67%, a pitch far harsher than the average implies

Pacing Notes

Do not chase an even speed — the undulation will make you burn matches on every rise and coast the descents, spiking your effort exactly where it costs the most. Ride to an even effort instead, holding a steady, sustainable power output through the steep pitches and easing back on the recoveries rather than hammering to keep the numbers up.

On a climb with 198 m of hidden re-ascent, the riders who blow up are the ones pacing to the average. Know your ceiling before you start. If you have not benchmarked it recently, run the FTP estimator and set a wattage cap you can defend to the 1104 m summit.

Gearing

The 20.67% maximum ramp is the number that should dictate your setup, not the 6.95% average. Pitches that steep, arriving after 198 m of undulation has already drained your legs, will crush a road-standard gear. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 at minimum, and 34×34 if your derailleur allows it. Check the setup on the stand before the ride, not at the base of the wall.

Summary

• Length: 9.6 km
• Average gradient: 6.95%
• Maximum gradient: 20.67%
• Net elevation gain: 667 m
• Total ascent: 865 m
• Category: 1

Krischnig rewards riders who respect the gap between its numbers. Gear low, pace to effort rather than speed, and treat the 865 m of total ascent — not the 667 m net — as the true measure of the day.