Rengglipass

Overview

Rengglipass is a Category 1 climb in Switzerland, running 25.1 km from a valley floor at 548 m to a summit of 1,680 m. On paper the numbers are moderate: a net elevation gain of 1,132 m over that distance produces an average gradient of just 4.52%. That average places it in the same bracket as many long, steady Alpine passes, and a rider glancing only at the headline figure would expect a rhythmic, tempo-friendly grind.

The reality is harder. Against 1,132 m of net gain, the road actually asks for 2,560 m of total ascent. That 1,428 m gap is elevation you climb, give back on descents and false flats, then climb again. Every metre of that surplus is paid for twice, and it means the effort is far spikier than a 4.52% average suggests. Treat Rengglipass as a series of climbs stitched together, not one continuous ascent.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.52% average is a lie of accounting. Because the profile repeatedly rises and falls, the flat and descending sections drag the mean down, which means the climbing sections are considerably steeper than 4.52% while you are on them. The road hides a maximum pitch of 37.9% — a wall-like ramp that dwarfs anything the average implies.

• Flatter and descending recovery sections where you give back part of the 1,428 m of surplus ascent
• Repeated short, punchy climbs that each demand a fresh surge rather than one steady tempo
• A single extreme ramp reaching 37.9%, where cadence collapses and traction matters

Pacing Notes

On a smooth, even-gradient climb you can hold a flat power number. Rengglipass punishes that approach. Pace it to a target of even effort, not even speed: on the steep ramps your speed will crater while power climbs, and on the descents and flats you should ease rather than chase the clock. Anchor your climbing sections to a percentage of your sustainable power output, and let short surges above it on the steepest pitches be the exception, not the rule. If you do not yet know that ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. Riders who hold steady speed here blow apart on the second or third repeated climb.

Gearing

The 37.9% maximum ramp dictates your setup entirely. This is not a gradient you muscle through on a road-standard cassette. Fit a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset and pair it with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 at minimum, and 34×34 if your derailleur allows it. Check the ramp clears your rear mech capacity and shifts cleanly under load before the ride, not at the base of the wall.

Summary

• Length: 25.1 km
• Average gradient: 4.52%
• Maximum gradient: 37.9%
• Net elevation gain: 1,132 m
• Total ascent: 2,560 m
• Category: 1

Rengglipass rewards riders who read past the average. Respect the 1,428 m of surplus ascent, gear for the 37.9% ramp, and pace to effort — do that, and a deceptively hard Category 1 climb becomes a satisfying one.