Pretal

Overview

Pretal is a short, sharp category 3 climb in Austria. It runs 1.6 km from a start elevation of 874 m to a summit at 1006 m, for a net elevation gain of 132 m. At an average gradient of 8.01%, it packs a genuine punch into a distance most riders would clear in well under fifteen minutes. This is not a climb you settle into over an hour; it demands a hard, committed effort from the first pedal stroke.

The numbers here are unusually clean. Total ascent (132 m) matches net elevation gain (132 m) exactly, which means there is effectively no undulation—no descents or false flats to reset your legs. Every metre gained stays gained. On many climbs the gap between these two figures warns you about wasted effort on rollers; on Pretal, that gap is zero. The upside is predictability. The downside is that there is nowhere to hide: the gradient stays on you the whole way up.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 8.01% average on a climb this short hides very little, but it does smooth over the difference between the general grind and the steepest ramp, which touches 9.38%. Expect the gradient to hover near or above average for most of the ascent, with the pitch stiffening as you approach the max.

• Little to no flat or recovery terrain—plan to hold pressure continuously
• A consistent mid-8% grind that never truly eases
• A steepest ramp at 9.38%, likely where you shift down and stand

Pacing Notes

Because Pretal has no undulation, even-effort and even-speed pacing converge more closely here than on a rolling climb. Pick a sustainable power output you can hold for the full 1.6 km and lock onto it. With no descents to recover on, going out too hard has no built-in bailout—you will simply fade before the summit.

Aim to ride just under threshold for the bulk of the climb, then absorb the 9.38% ramp with a small surge rather than a blow-up. If you are unsure what number to target, run the FTP estimator first and set your ceiling from real data.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your setup, and 9.38% at the end of a sustained effort will punish a tall bottom gear. Run a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette—a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you room to spin the steep ramp without grinding. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are over-geared on the ramp is a needless way to lose the climb.

Summary

• Length: 1.6 km
• Average gradient: 8.01%
• Maximum gradient: 9.38%
• Net elevation gain: 132 m
• Total ascent: 132 m
• Category: 3

Pretal is a compact, honest test: 132 m of gain, no undulation, and a steady 8% grind that stiffens near the top. Pace it to your sustainable ceiling, gear for the 9.38% ramp, and it rewards a clean, committed effort.