Nevessattel

Overview

Nevessattel is a long, honest Category 1 climb — the kind of ascent that rewards patience over aggression. Over its 18 km, the road climbs from a start elevation of 860 m to a summit of 1903 m, a net elevation gain of 1043 m. The total ascent measures 1017 m, meaning the route runs almost entirely uphill with only the faintest respites. The average gradient of 5.78% sits in a range that feels sustainable at first glance, but stretched across 18 km it accumulates into a serious effort. A maximum gradient of 16.15% warns that the climb is not uniform: there are ramps here that will spike your heart rate well beyond your steady rhythm.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number — 5.78% average — undersells the climb's texture. When a road averages 5.78% but touches 16.15%, it means the gradient swings widely around the mean. Expect long, honest stretches near the average interspersed with steeper ramps that momentarily double the effort. The gap between the net gain of 1043 m and the total ascent of 1017 m tells you the road is essentially relentless: there is very little descending mixed in, so almost every metre of the 18 km is spent going up. Mentally, break the climb into thirds of roughly 6 km each and treat every steep ramp as a temporary tax rather than a new normal — the pitch always eases back toward that 5.78% baseline.

Pacing Notes

The single most important skill on Nevessattel is discipline. With 18 km ahead, going out hard on the lower slopes is the classic error. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power: aim to ride the bulk of the climb at or just below your FTP, letting the steeper ramps toward 16.15% push you briefly above threshold before you settle back down. If you don't know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator first so your pacing target is grounded in real data rather than feel. Because the climb gains 1043 m, the thinning air near the 1903 m summit will make the final kilometres feel harder than the gradient alone suggests — hold a little in reserve for that closing third.

Gearing

For an 18 km climb averaging 5.78% with ramps to 16.15%, gearing generosity pays off. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is the sensible baseline for most riders, giving you a spinning cadence on the sustained sections. If you tend to grind, weigh more, or simply want insurance against those 16.15% pitches after 1000-plus metres of climbing already in the legs, step down to a 34×34. The extra range on the 34×34 costs you almost nothing on the flatter approaches and buys a genuine escape hatch on the steepest ramps, where preserving cadence protects your legs for the summit.

Summary

Nevessattel is a proper Category 1 test: long, steady, and unforgiving in its relentlessness rather than any single wall. Pace it to your threshold, gear low enough to keep spinning, and respect the thin air near the top.

Length: 18 km
Average gradient: 5.78%
Max gradient: 16.15%
Start: 860 m
Summit: 1903 m
Net gain: 1043 m
Total ascent: 1017 m
Category: 1