Lunghin Pass

What to Expect on the Lunghin Pass

The Lunghin Pass is a Category 1 climb in Switzerland that earns its classification honestly. Over just 6.1 km it delivers 659 m of net elevation gain — with total ascent reaching 708 m, meaning the road briefly undulates rather than offering a clean, unrelenting ramp. That discrepancy matters for pacing: any short descent mid-climb is borrowed time, not recovery.

The average gradient of 10.83% is already in the territory that separates riders who understand functional threshold power from those who don't. Sustain much above threshold on a double-digit average and you'll be walking before the summit.

The Maximum Gradient: 40.84%

This number demands its own paragraph. A 40.84% maximum gradient is not a steep ramp — it is a wall. For context, most riders' FTP-derived pacing models become irrelevant on pitches above 25–30% because forward momentum itself becomes the problem. At 40.84%, traction, body position, and raw low-speed power output are the limiting factors, not aerobic capacity.

Expect this pitch to be short — extreme gradients of this severity rarely extend more than a few dozen metres — but it will empty your legs if you arrive at it already deep in the red.

How the Elevation Unfolds

The climb begins at 1,371 m and tops out at 2,030 m. With 6.1 km to cover and an average of 10.83%, the road spends most of its length in genuinely steep terrain. There is no easy lower section to use as a warmup at race pace. Treat the opening kilometre as a controlled effort to set a ceiling for the rest of the climb.

The gap between net elevation gain (659 m) and total ascent (708 m) confirms at least one rollback somewhere on the route. Identify it on a gradient profile before you ride — use it to briefly float pedal pressure, not to accelerate.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 10.83% with a maximum approaching 41%, gearing is not a comfort consideration — it's a survival one. Recommendations:

• Road bike: A compact chainset (50/34) paired with an 11-32 or wider cassette is the minimum sensible setup. An 11-34 gives more headroom.
• Gravel bike: Standard gravel gearing (40t or smaller front ring, 10-44 or 10-51 rear) handles the average gradient well and gives something left for the maximum pitch.
• Cadence: Target 75–85 rpm on the sustained sections. Below 70 rpm on a 10%+ climb for extended periods compounds muscular fatigue rapidly.

If you're unsure what gear ratio your FTP demands on a gradient like this, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator.

Pacing Strategy

• Start conservatively. With 6.1 km at nearly 11% average, there is no meaningful flat to neutralise an early mistake.
• Watch for the brutal pitch. When the 40.84% section arrives, do not sprint into it. Shift to your easiest gear before the gradient kicks up, stay seated as long as traction allows, and keep body weight forward over the front wheel.
• Use the total ascent figure. The 49 m difference between net gain and total ascent means somewhere the road dips. Resist the urge to push hard through any descent — the climb resumes immediately.
• Summit at 2,030 m. At altitude, aerobic output is reduced relative to sea level. If you are not acclimatised, factor in additional perceived effort, particularly in the final third.

The Lunghin Pass is a short climb by Alpine standards but an unforgiving one. The combination of a sustained double-digit average and a near-41% maximum gradient means it penalises both poor pacing and under-gearing simultaneously. Ride it with a number in mind and the right cassette on the bike.