Ornpass

Overview

Ornpass is a long, steady category 3 climb that trades brutal steepness for patience. Over 14.1 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 414 m to a summit of 924 m, a net gain of 510 m at an average gradient of just 3.61%. On paper that number reads gentle, and for long stretches it is. But the average hides a maximum pitch of 10.91%, so this is not a climb you can switch off on. The distance alone puts it firmly in endurance territory: even at a modest gradient, 14.1 km of continuous ascending is a sustained effort that rewards riders who meter their power rather than attack.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Ornpass is the gap between its average and its maximum. A mean of 3.61% across 14.1 km means large portions of the road sit well below that figure, likely offering shallow drags and brief flatter recovery. Those easier sections are balanced by steeper ramps that climb toward the 10.91% maximum. Expect the climb to breathe in and out: false-flat kilometres where you can hold tempo and carry speed, punctuated by short, sharper walls that spike your heart rate before easing again. With a net gain of 510 m but a slightly lower total ascent figure of 500 m, the profile isn't perfectly monotone — there may be small levelling-off or dips along the way that let you reset before the next rise.

Pacing Notes

The trap on a climb like this is going out too hard on the shallow lower slopes, where the low gradient tempts you to push a big gear. Hold back. Aim to ride the flatter kilometres just below threshold and save headroom for the steeper ramps near the 10.91% maximum, where the extra resistance will cost you the most. A good target is to sit around your FTP on the steep pitches and comfortably under it on the drags. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride so you can set realistic power ceilings. Because the average is only 3.61%, momentum matters more here than on a steep climb — carry speed into the shallow sections rather than soft-pedalling them.

Gearing

Don't let the modest average gradient fool you into under-gearing. The 10.91% maximum is steep enough to bite late in a 14.1 km effort when your legs are already loaded. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is ideal. A 34×32 will get most fit riders over the steepest ramps while keeping a usable spread for the long shallow middle. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry endurance in your legs, or simply want insurance for the final kilometres, step up to a 34×34 — the extra sprocket costs nothing on the flatter drags and gives you a bailout gear on the wall.

Summary

Ornpass is a patient rider's climb: long, mostly shallow, but with just enough steepness to punish an over-eager start. Meter your effort, respect the maximum ramp, and gear generously.

Length: 14.1 km
Average gradient: 3.61%
Max gradient: 10.91%
Start: 414 m
Summit: 924 m
Net gain: 510 m
Total ascent: 500 m
Category: 3