Maisons Blanches pass

Overview

Maisons Blanches pass is a Category 1 climb in Switzerland, running 9.7 km from a start elevation of 1,339 m up to a summit at 2,155 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 816 m, which works out to the 8.38% average gradient that defines its difficulty. This is high-mountain terrain: you finish above 2,000 m, where thinner air adds a tax to every watt you put down near the top.

The number that matters most here is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 816 m net, but the total ascent is 1,225 m. That 409 m difference means the road drops and rises again along the way rather than climbing cleanly. Every metre you give back on a descent you have to earn a second time, so the effort you feel will run harder than a flat 8.38% average suggests. Treat this as an undulating climb, not a steady grind.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 8.38% average is a blend, not a constant. Because the profile undulates, the average is dragged down by the recovery sections and the descents that eat into your net gain — which means the climbing pitches are steeper than 8.38% to compensate. The steepest ramp hits 25%, a wall that will force you out of any rhythm you had built.

Across the profile, expect:

• Flatter and downhill sections that offer recovery but erase net elevation you must reclaim
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, driving total ascent well above net gain
• A brutal 25% pitch that dictates your lowest usable gear

Pacing Notes

On a steady climb you can hold even effort and let speed take care of itself. This one punishes that approach. Even-effort pacing is still the goal, but the undulation makes even-speed impossible — you will surge on the steep ramps and coast on the descents.

Anchor your effort to a sustainable power output rather than a target speed. Hold a steady percentage of that number through the climbing sections, and deliberately soft-pedal or recover on the flatter and downhill stretches instead of chasing the clock. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go so your effort targets are grounded in real numbers, not guesswork.

Gearing

Your gearing is governed by the steepest pitch, and at 25% that is uncompromising. Bring a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 as a floor, not a luxury. On a 25% wall, gearing that feels generous on rolling roads will leave you grinding to a halt or walking. Check your chainring and cassette combination before the ride, confirm the drivetrain shifts cleanly into that lowest gear, and do not assume your usual setup is enough.

Summary

• Length: 9.7 km
• Average gradient: 8.38%
• Net elevation gain: 816 m
• Total ascent: 1,225 m
• Category: 1

Maisons Blanches pass is a genuine Category 1 test: a 9.7 km climb to 2,155 m where undulation inflates 816 m of net gain into 1,225 m of total ascent. Pace to power, gear low, and respect the difference between what the average says and what the road delivers.