Oberalppass

Overview

Oberalppass is a long, patient effort rather than a short savage one. Over 30.4 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 496 m all the way to 2041 m, a net gain of 1545 m. The average gradient sits at a moderate 5.09%, which on paper sounds friendly — but a category 1 label on a climb this length tells the real story. The difficulty here is duration, not brutal steepness. You are committing to well over an hour of continuous work, and the total ascent of 1541 m confirms this is almost pure uphill with barely a break to recover.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 5.09% average across 30.4 km implies a road that rarely lets you coast, but it is not uniform. With a maximum gradient of 13.29% — more than double the average — there are clearly sharper pitches folded into the profile. Expect long stretches close to that 5% mean punctuated by steeper ramps where the road stiffens toward double digits. Because the net gain (1545 m) and total ascent (1541 m) are almost identical, there is very little descending mixed in; nearly every metre you climb, you keep. That makes the effort relentless in the best sense: no wasted altitude, but also no free recovery from a downhill.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Ride the first two-thirds comfortably below your threshold — the length will punish anyone who treats the early kilometres like a short climb. Anchor your pacing to your FTP and aim to hold a steady, sustainable percentage of it rather than surging on every ramp. When the gradient bites toward 13.29%, let your cadence drop and your power rise briefly, then settle straight back to rhythm once the road eases. If you are unsure of your current number, run the FTP estimator before you go so your target watts reflect real fitness, not guesswork. Save something for the upper slopes near 2041 m, where thinner air quietly trims your ceiling.

Gearing

With 30.4 km at 5.09% and spikes to 13.29%, gearing is about protecting your legs for the long haul, not muscling over. A compact 34-tooth front paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the steady sections and the steeper ramps without cross-chaining into a grind. If you carry any fatigue, ride at a lower FTP, or simply want to spin the steep pitches rather than stamp them, step up to a 34×34 for extra margin. On a climb where cadence preservation is everything, the easier gear is rarely a mistake.

Summary

Oberalppass rewards patience: a genuinely long category 1 climb where the challenge is holding a steady effort across 30.4 km and 1545 m of gain, not surviving isolated walls. Pace it conservatively, gear low, and let the steady 5.09% average carry you to 2041 m.

Length: 30.4 km
Average gradient: 5.09%
Max gradient: 13.29%
Start: 496 m
Summit: 2041 m
Net gain: 1545 m
Total ascent: 1541 m
Category: 1