Lunghin Pass

Lunghin Pass cycling climb profile

Lunghin Pass is an HC climb in Switzerland, and the headline numbers explain why it demands respect before the first pedal stroke. The climb runs for 27.8 km from 427 m to 2069 m, gaining 1642 m in elevation at an average gradient of 5.9%. That average is manageable on paper, but the maximum gradient of 21.89% changes the character of the effort completely.

This is not a climb to ride as a steady tempo ramp from bottom to summit. A long ascent with a moderate average and a very high maximum gradient usually means the difficulty is uneven. The easier ground lowers the average, while the steepest ramps create the real cost. That matters because the decisive damage is not only the total climbing load, but the repeated need to produce torque when the road pitches up.

How the gradient should feel

The 5.9% average suggests there will be enough rideable gradient to settle into rhythm, but the 21.89% maximum means you cannot pace this purely off the average. The climb asks for restraint early, because any effort spent riding above threshold on the steep ramps has to be carried for the rest of a 27.8 km ascent.

The net elevation gain of 1642 m also means fatigue accumulates slowly. Even if the opening feels controlled, the climb becomes progressively more expensive as the elevation gain stacks up. The key is to avoid turning the steepest pitches into accelerations. On a climb this long, the rider who keeps pressure consistent usually beats the rider who chases speed every time the road tilts upward.

Pacing strategy

Treat Lunghin Pass as an endurance climb with threshold interruptions, not as a pure threshold test. If riding by power, anchor the effort around sustainable climbing output and allow short rises only when the gradient forces them. If riding by feel, the correct sensation early is controlled and slightly conservative. You should feel like you are leaving something in reserve, because the climb is long enough to punish even small overpacing errors.

The steepest ramps are where the pacing plan matters most. Stay seated when traction and cadence allow, but do not fight the bike if the gradient forces a lower cadence. The goal is to keep the effort from becoming a series of spikes. Repeated surges above your FTP will make the final part of the climb feel much harder than the average gradient suggests.

Gearing and practical notes

Bring climbing gears with real bailout range. The average gradient does not justify aggressive gearing, because the maximum gradient is the limiting factor. You need a setup that lets you keep pedalling smoothly when the road gets severe, especially after the fatigue from more than 1600 m of net gain has already accumulated.

Cadence discipline is the practical takeaway. On the steadier sections, ride light enough to preserve the legs. On the steep ramps, shift early rather than waiting until cadence collapses. Lunghin Pass rewards patience, low muscular strain, and a pacing plan built for the whole climb, not just the next visible pitch.