Latterfußsattel

Overview

The Latterfußsattel is a Category 3 climb in Austria, running 9.8 km from a start elevation of 750 m to a summit at 1173 m. On paper it is a mid-length ascent with a net elevation gain of 423 m, the kind of climb that fills the middle of a long day rather than defining it. The category and the numbers suggest a steady, manageable effort.

The numbers also hide something. The net gain is 423 m, but the total ascent over the 9.8 km is 858 m — more than double. That gap of 435 m is climbing you do and then give back, meaning the road rises and falls repeatedly rather than tilting up in one clean line. For your legs, this undulation matters more than the category: you cannot settle into a single rhythm, and every dip you coast down is a pitch you have to reclimb.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.3% average is close to meaningless here. Because the profile gives back roughly 435 m along the way, the sections you actually pedal up are far steeper than 4.3%, and they are broken up by descents and flats where you do no climbing at all. Treat the average as a billing summary, not a description of any single moment on the road.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections where the road drops and the average is diluted
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each demanding a fresh surge
• A steepest ramp that spikes well into the teens — plan to be in your easiest gear before it

Pacing Notes

On a smooth climb you can pace by even speed. Here, even speed is a trap: holding a fixed pace across the steep ramps forces spikes that burn matches you will want later. Pace by even effort instead, anchoring to your sustainable power output and letting your speed rise on the shallow sections and fall on the steep ones. Spend nothing chasing the descents — freewheel and recover, because the next reclimb is coming. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you plan the ride so your target is grounded in real data rather than feel.

Gearing

Gearing is governed by the steepest pitch, not the average. With ramps well into the teens, come with a compact or sub-compact chainset and a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 — so you can keep a workable cadence when the road kicks up rather than grinding over it. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the cassette and chainring you have actually installed, and that the rear derailleur can handle the largest sprocket.

Summary

• Length: 9.8 km
• Average gradient: 4.3%
• Net elevation gain: 423 m
• Total ascent: 858 m
• Category: 3

The Latterfußsattel reads as an easy Category 3 until you notice that its 858 m of total ascent nearly doubles the 423 m net gain. Pace by effort, gear for the steep ramps, and respect the undulation — that is where this climb spends you.