Loibl Pass

Overview

Loibl Pass is a short, savage Category 1 climb that never lets you settle. Over just 6.7 km it averages a punishing 10.18%, dragging you from a start elevation of 686 m to a summit of 1367 m. That is a net gain of 681 m packed into under seven kilometres — the kind of density that makes the legs remember the effort long after the road flattens. With a maximum gradient of 18.45%, this is a climb defined by relentless steepness rather than length, and a 10.18% average means there are effectively no soft sections to recover on.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number here is that 10.18% average. On most climbs an average in double figures is buffered by flatter stretches; on Loibl Pass, the pitch stays consistently severe throughout the 6.7 km. The spread between the 18.45% maximum and the 10.18% average is about 8.27 percentage points, which tells you the hardest ramps rear up well beyond an already brutal baseline. Expect the road to bite hardest where it kicks toward that 18.45% wall, then ease only back toward — not below — the double-digit norm. There is a small discrepancy worth noting: the total ascent measures 656 m against a net elevation gain of 681 m, a difference of 25 m, meaning the profile is almost purely upward with barely any respite descents to break the rhythm.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is survival. With 681 m to gain in 6.7 km, going out too hard in the first kilometre will cost you dearly when the gradient touches 18.45%. Anchor your effort to your sustainable threshold: knowing your FTP lets you set a wattage ceiling you can hold for the roughly 30–45 minutes this climb demands, rather than blowing up on the first steep ramp. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator first, then ride the lower gradients slightly under threshold so you have headroom for the 18.45% pitches. The goal is a steady, repeatable effort — the average of 10.18% punishes surges harder than almost any terrain.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. A 10.18% average sustained over 6.7 km, spiking to 18.45%, calls for the widest range you can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 setup is the sensible minimum for strong riders, but most cyclists will be far happier with 34×34, giving you a cadence you can actually turn over on the steepest ramps. If your derailleur accepts it, err toward the larger cassette — spinning a 34×34 up an 18.45% wall beats grinding a 34×32 to a standstill. Preserving cadence here is what keeps the 681 m of climbing manageable.

Summary

Loibl Pass is a compact, uncompromising Category 1 test: no filler, no false flats, just 6.7 km of double-digit gradient hauling you 681 m into the sky. Pace it to your threshold, gear it generously, and respect that 18.45% maximum.

Length: 6.7 km
Average gradient: 10.18%
Max gradient: 18.45%
Start: 686 m
Summit: 1367 m
Net gain: 681 m
Total ascent: 656 m
Category: 1