Kunkels Pass

Overview

Kunkels Pass is a Category 1 climb in Switzerland (CH), running 12.6km from base to summit. It starts at 559m and tops out at 1354m, for a net elevation gain of 795m. On paper that reads as a steady mid-length climb, but the profile carries more punch than the headline numbers suggest.

The gap between the net gain and the total ascent is what makes this pass demanding. While you rise 795m from start to summit, the road actually accumulates 1215m of climbing along the way. That 420m difference means the route gives elevation back before taking it again through rollers and short descents, so your legs pay for more vertical than the net figure implies. Expect to climb, coast, and climb again rather than settle into one long grind.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.33% average is a blend, not a constant. Because the road sheds and regains height, the true climbing pitches are steeper than that number, offset by flatter and downhill stretches that drag the average down. The steepest ramp reaches 33.33%, a wall-like pitch you must be ready for well before you hit it.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly descends
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, adding up to the 420m of extra ascent
• A single steepest ramp near 33% that demands your lowest gear and a measured approach

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing an even speed is a trap: you would blow up holding pace on the steep ramps and coast too easily on the flat. Instead, pace by effort. Hold a steady sustainable power output across the whole climb, letting your speed rise on the gentle sections and fall on the walls. The rollers reward riders who keep effort smooth rather than surging.

If you do not know your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then ride the climb a touch under that figure so the steep pitches do not push you into the red.

Gearing

The 33.33% maximum gradient governs your setup. That is far beyond what a standard road chainset handles comfortably, so fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low end to spin the steepest ramp instead of grinding it. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up a 33% wall is not the place to find out.

Summary

• Length: 12.6km
• Average gradient: 6.33%
• Maximum gradient: 33.33%
• Net elevation gain: 795m
• Total ascent: 1215m
• Category: 1

Kunkels Pass is a Category 1 test where the total ascent, not the net gain, defines the effort. Pace by power, gear low for the steepest ramp, and treat the rollers as the real challenge.