Pas de Morgins

Overview

Pas de Morgins sits in the Swiss Alps and carries a Category 2 rating — earned through 17 km of riding that nets 707 metres of elevation gain from a start elevation of 728 m to a summit at 1,435 m. On paper, the 4.17% average gradient looks manageable. In practice, the 27.9% maximum gradient tells the real story: this climb is not a steady grind. It is a road that lulls, then punishes.

The gap between the net gain (707 m) and total ascent (1,881 m) is the first thing to flag. That difference reveals significant undulation across the 17 km — the road descends and re-climbs repeatedly, meaning your legs accumulate far more work than the summit-to-base numbers suggest. Total ascent of 1,881 m for a climb that nets only 707 m is a serious mismatch, and it should recalibrate your effort expectations before you turn a pedal.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.17% average masks stretches that are considerably flatter and sections that tip into genuinely extreme territory. With a maximum gradient of 27.9%, there are ramps on this road steep enough to stop an underprepared rider cold. A 27.9% pitch requires both the right gearing and a measured approach to the kilometres before it — arrive there already deep in oxygen debt and the road will not forgive it.

Given the total ascent figure relative to net gain, expect the profile to include:

• Flatter or slightly downhill sections that offer recovery but also reset momentum
• Repeated short climbs that force you to accelerate from low speed
• At least one section approaching the maximum gradient where technique and gearing become critical

This is not a climb where you can lock into a single sustainable power output and zone out. The terrain demands active management.

Pacing Notes

The undulating nature of this climb makes even-effort pacing more useful than even-speed pacing. Chasing speed on descending sections wastes energy you will need on the next ramp. On the flat or downhill segments, recover — spin the legs, control breathing, and resist the urge to accelerate.

On the steep pitches, particularly anything approaching the upper end of the gradient range, stay seated if you can. Standing burns more energy and, on a 17 km effort with significant total ascent, fatigue compounds. If you do stand, keep cadence controlled and avoid surging.

For reference on how to set a realistic ceiling for this kind of effort, see the FTP estimator. Targeting somewhere in the 70–80% of FTP range for the sustained sections — and allowing brief excursions above threshold on the sharp ramps — is a sound approach on a climb this varied.

Gearing

The 27.9% maximum gradient is the governing factor for gearing selection. Most riders will want a compact chainset (50/34 or smaller) paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 or 34×34 combination is not excessive here — running out of gears on a near-28% ramp mid-climb is a race-ending or ride-ruining mistake. If you are on a gravel or all-road setup, the gearing question largely answers itself.

Check your setup before the ride. Arriving at the base with a standard chainset and an 11-28 cassette is a gamble not worth taking.

Summary

• Length: 17 km
• Average gradient: 4.17%
• Maximum gradient: 27.9%
• Net elevation gain: 707 m
• Total ascent: 1,881 m
• Category: 2

Pas de Morgins rewards riders who respect the total ascent number over the average gradient, carry appropriate gearing, and treat each flatter section as recovery rather than acceleration. Underestimate it and the steep ramps will expose every calorie you wasted.