Mitterjoch

Overview

Mitterjoch is a climb that leaves no room for negotiation. Over just 9.4 km it averages a brutal 11.16%, hauling you from a start elevation of 1052 m to a summit at 2102 m. That is a net gain of 1050 m packed into a short span, with a total ascent of 1469 m once the road's dips and rises are counted. It is rated HC — hors catégorie, the hardest classification there is, above categories 1, 2, 3, and 4 — and the numbers explain exactly why. An average this steep, sustained over this distance, puts Mitterjoch among the most punishing paved climbs a cyclist can attempt.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is relentlessness. An 11.16% average across 9.4 km means there is very little respite built into the road — you cannot bank on a flat kilometer to recover. Because the total ascent (1469 m) exceeds the net gain (1050 m) by 419 m, the profile is not a perfectly smooth ramp; it undulates, meaning some pitches drop briefly before clawing back upward and beyond. Those small descents are deceptive. Every meter you lose must be re-climbed, which is why the total ascent runs so far ahead of the net figure. Expect the gradient to bite hardest where the road tilts above its own average, and treat the rare shallower sections as recovery, not as a place to push.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is survival. Riding above your sustainable ceiling in the opening kilometers will cost you dearly before the summit at 2102 m. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a wattage you can defend for the full 9.4 km — at an 11.16% average, the ascent will take most riders well beyond a short, sharp effort, so this is a threshold-and-below discipline, not a sprint. If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target power. Given the 1050 m of net gain, aim to finish the first half feeling like you have more in reserve than instinct suggests.

Gearing

Do not under-gear Mitterjoch. An 11.16% average sustained for 9.4 km is exactly the terrain where a compact crankset paired with a wide-range cassette earns its keep. A 34×32 is the realistic minimum for most riders, and even then it will feel tall on the steepest ramps. If you have the option, fit a 34×34 — that extra cog gives you a lower cadence floor and lets you spin rather than grind, which protects your legs across the full 1469 m of total ascent. On a climb this steep, a bailout gear is not a luxury; it is the difference between riding to the top and walking.

Summary

Mitterjoch is short only on paper. Its 11.16% average and HC rating make it a true test of climbing endurance and pacing discipline, rewarding riders who respect the gradient from the first pedal stroke to the summit.

Length: 9.4 km
Average gradient: 11.16%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 1052 m
Summit: 2102 m
Net gain: 1050 m
Total ascent: 1469 m
Category: HC