Mattlerjoch

Overview

Mattlerjoch is a long Category 1 climb in Austria, running 27.7 km from a valley floor at 437 m up to a summit at 1,857 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 1,420 m at an average gradient of 5.12%. It is the kind of ascent that rewards patience: the distance, not the steepness, is what defines the day, and you will be climbing for well over an hour before the road tops out.

The average gradient tells only part of the story. While the net gain is 1,420 m, the total ascent is 1,783 m, meaning you actually climb 363 m more than the point-to-point profile suggests. That gap comes from dips and false flats along the way, and it has a real cost: every metre you give back on a descent is a metre you have to re-earn. Treat the 5.12% figure as an accounting average, not a description of what the legs will feel.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 5.12% across 27.7 km hides a lot. The 363 m of undulation means the road repeatedly eases and pitches back up, and the steepest sections bite far harder than the mean implies. Expect the profile to break into distinct efforts rather than one steady drag.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road levels off or briefly descends — chances to eat, drink, and reset.
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, which is where the extra 363 m of ascent accumulates.
• A steepest ramp well into the double digits — the hardest single pitch on the climb, so keep gears in reserve for it.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Holding a constant pace forces you to spike your power on every ramp, and those repeated surges drain you long before the summit. Instead, ride to your body: let speed fall on the steep pitches and carry momentum through the flatter recovery sections. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power output and stay a touch below it on the lower slopes so you have something left for the steepest ramp. If you are unsure of your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target for the day.

Gearing

The steepest ramp is what dictates your setup, not the 5.12% average. For a climb with pitches this steep stacked at the back of a 27.7 km effort, run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low gear to spin the hardest ramp without grinding. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up a 1,420 m climb is a long, painful lesson.

Summary

• Length: 27.7 km
• Average gradient: 5.12%
• Net elevation gain: 1,420 m
• Total ascent: 1,783 m
• Category: 1

Mattlerjoch is a distance-and-undulation climb, not a wall. Manage the 363 m of hidden ascent with even-effort pacing and gearing built for the steepest ramp, and the 1,420 m to the 1,857 m summit will come steadily.