Pastirksattel

Overview

Pastirksattel is a Category 1 climb in Austria, running 14.3 km from a valley base to a mountain saddle. It starts at 541 m and tops out at 1,422 m, for a net elevation gain of 881 m at an average gradient of 6.15%. On paper that reads as a steady, honest mid-mountain effort, the kind of ascent a fit rider can settle into and grind out over the better part of an hour.

The profile is not that clean. Total ascent over the 14.3 km is 1,458 m, some 577 m more than the net gain. That gap is undulation: the road repeatedly kicks up, crests, and drops back before climbing again. You pay for those extra metres twice, because every descent you coast through is elevation you have to reclaim. Plan your effort around 1,458 m of climbing, not the 881 m the start-to-summit figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.15% average is a blend, not a description. With 577 m of hidden climbing folded into rollers, long stretches sit well below average while short pitches spike far above it. The headline number to respect is the maximum: 24.61%, a wall-steep ramp that will force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear the moment it arrives.

• Recovery on the descents and false flats between rollers — use them to soft-pedal and shed lactate
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the extra 577 m of ascent
• A single savage ramp touching 24.61% that dwarfs everything else on the road

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Hold a steady sustainable power output through the rollers rather than surging to keep your speed constant — surging on every rise burns matches you will need for the 24.61% ramp. Let your speed rise on the descents and dips without adding power. Know your number before you start: run the FTP estimator and set a ceiling you can defend across all 14.3 km and 1,458 m of climbing.

Gearing

The 24.61% pitch governs your setup. That gradient is too steep for a standard chainset, so fit a compact (50/34) or sub-compact and pair it with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you a cadence you can actually turn on the wall. Check your drivetrain before the ride: confirm the chain reaches the largest sprocket cleanly and that the rear derailleur has the capacity. Discovering you are over-geared at 24.61% means walking.

Summary

• Length: 14.3 km
• Average gradient: 6.15%
• Maximum gradient: 24.61%
• Net elevation gain: 881 m
• Total ascent: 1,458 m
• Category: 1

Pastirksattel rewards riders who read past the average. Pace to the total ascent, gear for the steepest ramp, and the saddle at 1,422 m is well within reach.