Multenegg

Overview

Multenegg is a category 2 climb in Switzerland that trades brute steepness for endurance. Over 12.7 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 544 m to a summit at 1082 m, a net gain of 538 m. The average gradient of 4.23% sounds gentle on paper, and for long stretches it is — but a maximum pitch of 14.53% means the road does not stay polite the whole way up. This is a climb you settle into rather than attack, a rhythm test where the clock matters more than any single ramp.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is that 4.23% average, and much of Multenegg lives close to it: long, rolling drags where you can hold a cadence and breathe. The gap between the 4.23% average and the 14.53% maximum tells the real story — nearly 10.3 percentage points separate the typical slope from the hardest one. That spread means the difficulty is unevenly parcelled out. Expect easier sections that let you recover interspersed with sharper kicks that spike toward the mid-teens. The total ascent of 520 m sits just below the 538 m net gain, confirming there is very little false-flat or descending relief once you are climbing — almost every metre of road tilts upward. Read the pitches as they come, keep something in reserve for the steep bites, and do not let the flatter portions lull you into overspending.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a sustainable power through the 4.23% averages, saving matches for the 14.53% ramps where wattage naturally jumps. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before your attempt so you can pace to real data rather than feel. The middle of the climb is where riders blow up — the temptation is to push the easier grades, but banking fatigue early costs you dearly across 12.7 km. Aim to arrive at the steepest kicks with your effort still controlled, then let the gradient — not your ambition — dictate where you dig deep.

Gearing

For most riders, a 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette is the safe bet here. A 34×32 low gear will cover the 4.23% majority comfortably and get you over the 14.53% maximum if your legs are fresh, but if you expect fatigue late in a 12.7 km effort — or you simply prefer to spin — step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence high on the steep pitches and protects your knees over 538 m of climbing. When in doubt on a climb with this kind of gradient spread, choose the easier gear; you will never regret having it in reserve.

Summary

Multenegg rewards patience: a long, mostly steady category 2 ascent with just enough steep punctuation to keep you honest. Pace to your threshold, gear generously, and let the numbers guide you to the 1082 m summit.

Length: 12.7 km
Average gradient: 4.23%
Max gradient: 14.53%
Start: 544 m
Summit: 1082 m
Net gain: 538 m
Total ascent: 520 m
Category: 2