Pogusch

Overview

Pogusch is a Category 2 climb in Austria, running 10 km from a start elevation of 521 m to a summit at 1063 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 542 m at an average gradient of 5.42%. On paper that is a steady, moderate climb — the kind you can settle into and hold a rhythm on for the better part of an hour.

The number that changes the picture is total ascent: 721 m against a net gain of 542 m. That 179 m difference means the road does not climb continuously. Somewhere on the profile you give back roughly 179 m of hard-won elevation to descents or dips, then climb it a second time. Every meter of descent is a meter you re-earn, so the actual climbing effort is meaningfully harder than the net figure or the 5.42% average implies.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.42% average is a blend, not a constant. With a maximum gradient of 15.66%, the climb has at least one ramp roughly three times steeper than the average, and the 179 m of extra ascent tells you the flatter and downhill sections are pulling that average down. Expect the effort to arrive in bursts rather than as one long, even grind.

• Flatter and recovery sections, including short descents, that account for the gap between net gain and total ascent
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle of the profile that reset your legs each time
• A steepest ramp touching 15.66% — the pitch that dictates your gearing and your hardest moments

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like Pogusch, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a fixed speed means overcooking the steep ramps and coasting the descents — the worst of both. Instead, hold a consistent sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain. Push slightly on the flatter and downhill sections where power is cheap in effort, and refuse to spike your wattage on the 15.66% ramp — let cadence drop instead. Know your number before you start; the FTP estimator will give you a target to ride to.

Gearing

The 15.66% maximum gradient is the deciding factor. Fit a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear lets you spin the steepest pitch instead of grinding it and blowing your legs early. On the repeated short climbs, that low gear also protects you across the day. Check your setup before the ride; you do not want to discover you are one sprocket short halfway up.

Summary

• Length: 10 km
• Average gradient: 5.42%
• Maximum gradient: 15.66%
• Net elevation gain: 542 m
• Total ascent: 721 m
• Category: 2

Pogusch is a Category 2 climb that rewards riders who read the profile rather than the average. Pace by effort, gear for the 15.66% ramp, and treat the 179 m of extra ascent as the real story — it is what turns a moderate-looking climb into a genuine test.