Mittelberg

Overview

Mittelberg is a category 2 climb that packs a genuine mountain feel into 9.5 kilometres. From a start elevation of 1030 m it climbs steadily to a summit of 1638 m, a net gain of 608 m at an average gradient of 6.42%. That average sits in the sweet spot where a climb stops being a warm-up and starts demanding respect: sustained enough to hurt, but rhythmic enough to settle into a groove. With a maximum gradient of 11.32%, there are moments that break the rhythm and force you out of the saddle, but the overall shape rewards riders who can hold a steady, controlled effort rather than chase the steep ramps.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is 6.42%, but averages hide the texture. Across 9.5 km you should expect a mix of ramps that sit above the mean and short reliefs that dip below it. The gap between the 6.42% average and the 11.32% maximum is nearly five percentage points, which tells you the steepest pitches are meaningfully harder than the climb as a whole. Treat those peaks as the crux sections: places where the road tilts up and your effort spikes, framed by longer stretches closer to the average. The 608 m of net gain is delivered over enough distance that no single wall defines the climb, but the maximum pitch is stiff enough that you will feel it clearly when it arrives.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride Mittelberg is to anchor your effort to your FTP rather than to how the first kilometre feels. On a climb of this length, going out even slightly too hard early costs you far more later. Aim to hold a percentage of threshold that you can sustain across the full 9.5 km, then allow your power to rise on the 11.32% pitches without redlining. If you are unsure of your threshold number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. A steady climb like this punishes surges: the more even your effort across the 608 m of climbing, the faster your overall time.

Gearing

For a 9.5 km climb averaging 6.42% with ramps to 11.32%, gearing is about protecting your cadence on the steep sections. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will keep most fit riders spinning through the bulk of the climb, but on the 11.32% pitches — especially deep into the climb as the 608 m of gain accumulates — a 34×34 buys you a lower bailout gear and lets you sit and turn the pedals rather than grind. If your legs or your bike allow it, err toward the 34×34: fresh legs rarely regret an easier gear, and tired legs always thank you for it.

Summary

Mittelberg is a well-balanced category 2 effort: long enough to matter, steep enough in places to test you, and rhythmic enough to reward smart pacing. Anchor your effort to threshold, gear low enough to spin the 11.32% ramps, and let the 6.42% average carry you to the summit.

Length: 9.5 km
Average gradient: 6.42%
Max gradient: 11.32%
Start: 1030 m
Summit: 1638 m
Net gain: 608 m
Total ascent: 585 m
Category: 2