Rechberghöhe

Overview

Rechberghöhe is a Category 2 climb in Austria, running 7.6 km from a start elevation of 443 m to a summit of 934 m. Over that distance it delivers 491 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 6.45%. On paper that reads as a steady, mid-length ascent, but the average alone undersells what the legs actually do here.

The gap between the numbers tells the real story. While the net gain is 491 m, the total ascent is 723 m — 232 m more climbing than the point-to-point profile suggests. That surplus comes from downhill and flat sections mid-climb, meaning you re-climb ground you have already given back. This undulation makes even-effort pacing harder: every dip resets your rhythm, and every re-ascent demands another surge.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.45% average hides both the recovery and the punishment. Because 232 m of the climbing is "extra" ascent absorbed by descents, the steep pitches must be sharper than the average implies to balance the flatter and downhill portions. Expect the effort to arrive in bursts rather than as one continuous wall.

• Flatter or descending recovery sections where the road eases or drops, letting you soft-pedal
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the 723 m total ascent
• A steepest ramp well into double digits — noticeably harder than the 6.45% average

Pacing Notes

On a smooth climb you would hold a fixed sustainable power output and let speed vary. Rechberghöhe's undulation rewards a hybrid approach: ease slightly on the descents and flats rather than hammering to "keep speed," then apply controlled power on the re-ascents. Chasing even speed here burns matches on every recovery section you should be using to rest. Ride the steep ramps at or just under threshold, and coast the gifts. Estimate your number with the FTP estimator before you set targets.

Gearing

Gearing is governed by the steepest ramp, not the average — and that ramp bites into double digits. Run a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette such as 34×32 or 34×34 so you can spin the steepest pitches without grinding. Check your actual setup before the ride; discovering you are one sprocket short mid-ramp is a mistake you make only once.

Summary

• Length: 7.6 km
• Average gradient: 6.45%
• Maximum gradient: 18.85%
• Net elevation gain: 491 m
• Total ascent: 723 m
• Category: 2

Rechberghöhe is a climb where the total ascent, not the net gain, defines the effort. Respect the undulation, gear for the steep ramp, and pace to the dips — do that and the Category 2 rating will feel earned rather than punishing.