Ricken

Overview

Ricken is a category 2 climb that rewards a rider who can settle into a rhythm and hold it. Over 7 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 407 m to a summit at 814 m, an honest net gain of 407 m with 385 m of total ascent once the minor undulations are counted. The average gradient of 5.8% sits squarely in the range where a strong tempo effort is punished less than a burst of enthusiasm. Nothing here is savage, but nothing is free either — this is a climb of sustained pressure rather than a single knockout blow.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number is the gap between the 5.8% average and the 9.09% maximum. That spread tells you the road is not uniform: long stretches near the mean are interrupted by steeper ramps that briefly touch 9.09%. Because the average holds at 5.8% across all 7 km, every steep section is balanced by shallower recovery gradients elsewhere. Read the climb as a series of steps rather than a single wall — when the road tilts toward its maximum, the smart move is to stay seated and let the gradient ease again rather than chasing the pitch. With 385 m of ascent spread over 7 km, the effort accumulates gradually, so the closing kilometres near 814 m are where fatigue, not gradient, becomes the real opponent.

Pacing Notes

Pace Ricken off your threshold, not your ego. A climb of this length and 5.8% average is best ridden just below or around your FTP, holding steady power through the shallower sections and allowing a controlled surge over the ramps toward 9.09% before returning to target. If you do not know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator first, then set a wattage ceiling you can defend for the full 7 km. The classic error is going too hard in the first kilometres from 407 m, then bleeding time as you approach 814 m. Aim for even effort: the second half should feel no harder than the first if your pacing is right.

Gearing

For most riders a compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette handles Ricken comfortably. A 34×32 is enough for a fit climber to spin through the steeper 9.09% ramps without grinding, keeping cadence up and the legs fresh for the summit at 814 m. If you prefer to sit and spin, or you are carrying fatigue into the climb, drop to a 34×34 for extra margin on the steep pitches. Given the 5.8% average and short bursts toward the maximum, that one-tooth cushion of 34×34 buys real comfort over 7 km at little cost.

Summary

Ricken is a fair, rhythm-friendly category 2 climb: long enough to matter, steady enough to pace, and steep enough in places to demand respect. Ride it on threshold, gear for the ramps, and the 814 m summit comes to you.

Length: 7 km
Average gradient: 5.8%
Max gradient: 9.09%
Start: 407 m
Summit: 814 m
Net gain: 407 m
Total ascent: 385 m
Category: 2