Nörderscharte

Overview

Nörderscharte is a climb that refuses to negotiate. Over 16.8 km it averages 12.55%, dragging you from a start elevation of 269 m to a 2373 m summit. That is a net elevation gain of 2104 m and a total ascent of 2087 m — numbers that put this firmly in HC territory, the hardest category on the scale before you run out of categories entirely. There is no easing-in phase to hide behind here. A double-digit average sustained across the better part of seventeen kilometres means the climb is essentially one long emergency, and the 38.53% max gradient guarantees at least one moment where the road tilts into something closer to a wall than a slope.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Nörderscharte is the gap between its average and its maximum. A 12.55% average is already brutally steep, but the 38.53% max tells you the climb is not uniform — it spikes hard. When your baseline is that high and the peaks reach nearly three times steeper, the "flatter" sections are still savage by any normal standard. Practically, the difference between the 2104 m net gain and the 2087 m total ascent is small, only 17 m, which means there is almost no descending or false-flat relief across the whole 16.8 km. Every metre of road is working against you. Expect the gradient to surge and settle rather than climb in a tidy line, and treat any respite as temporary.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this relentless, pacing is survival. Your FTP is the single most useful number you have, because on a 12.55% average you cannot outrun the gradient — you can only meter your effort against it. Ride the sustained sections at or just below threshold and hold something in reserve for the 38.53% spikes, where power will briefly balloon whether you like it or not. Going into the red early on a 16.8 km, 2104 m effort is a mistake you will pay for near the summit. If you are not sure of your threshold, run the FTP estimator before you commit, then build your climbing power targets from there. Break the climb into blocks, ride to a number, and let the steep ramps come to you rather than attacking them.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With a 12.55% average and pitches to 38.53%, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 32-tooth cassette sprocket — a 34×32 — is the sensible floor, and even that will feel tall on the worst ramps. If your legs or your loaded weight suggest any doubt, go to 34×34 for extra range and lower cadence stress across the full 2104 m of climbing. On a climb this long and steep, the wider ratio is insurance, not indulgence. Prioritise spinning circles over grinding squares.

Summary

Nörderscharte is an HC climb in the fullest sense: long, unbroken, and steep enough to break a poorly paced ride. Respect the average, plan for the spikes, gear low, and ride to your threshold.

Length: 16.8 km
Average gradient: 12.55%
Max gradient: 38.53%
Start: 269 m
Summit: 2373 m
Net gain: 2104 m
Total ascent: 2087 m
Category: HC