Reschen Pass

Overview

Reschen Pass is a compact but genuinely demanding category 2 climb. It measures 4.8 km with an average gradient of 7.82%, and the maximum pitch bites up to 10.98%. You start at 1042 m and top out at 1418 m, a net elevation gain of 376 m over that short distance. The total ascent is 348 m, so nearly all of the vertical work is done climbing upward rather than rolling over any dips. This is the kind of effort that rewards a steady head: short enough to attack, steep enough to punish anyone who overcooks the opening kilometres.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 7.82% average across 4.8 km, there is nowhere to truly recover. The defining feature is the difference between the average and the 10.98% max: those ramps are more than three percentage points above the mean, so they arrive as sharp spikes that force you out of rhythm. Expect the road to sit close to its average for long stretches, then kick harder where the max gradient lives. Because the net gain (376 m) exceeds the total ascent (348 m) by only a small margin, there is little false-flat relief to hide in. Read the road ahead: hold something in reserve for the double-digit pitches rather than being surprised by them.

Pacing Notes

Over a climb this short, pacing is about not blowing up early. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a 4.8 km ascent you can afford to ride slightly above threshold, but the 10.98% ramps will spike your power well beyond that if you are not disciplined. Settle into a sustainable rhythm on the 7.82% sections, then accept a brief surge over the steepest pitches and let it settle again. If you are unsure of your threshold number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the effort. The margin between a controlled ride and a spectacular fade on Reschen Pass is a single over-eager kilometre.

Gearing

With an average of 7.82% and spikes to 10.98% over 4.8 km, gearing choice decides whether the steep ramps stay comfortable. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is ideal. A 34×32 will get most riders over the climb, letting you spin the 10.98% pitches rather than grind them. If you carry any fatigue, prefer climbing seated, or simply want more cadence insurance, a 34×34 gives you that extra buffer for the steepest sections and keeps your legs fresher for the run to the 1418 m summit. There is no penalty for having one more sprocket than you need on a wall like this.

Summary

Reschen Pass is a short, steep, honest category 2 test: 4.8 km at 7.82% with a genuine 10.98% sting, climbing from 1042 m to 1418 m. Pace it to your threshold, gear low, and respect the ramps.

Length: 4.8 km
Average gradient: 7.82%
Max gradient: 10.98%
Start: 1042 m
Summit: 1418 m
Net gain: 376 m
Total ascent: 348 m
Category: 2