Rotsteinpass

Overview

Rotsteinpass is a Category 1 climb in Switzerland, running 12.7 km from a valley start at 791 m to a summit of 1520 m. On paper it delivers 729 m of net elevation gain, which spread over its length produces a moderate average gradient. It is long enough to demand a real pacing plan, but its headline numbers understate how the effort actually plays out on the road.

The important detail is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 963 m in total to net just 729 m, meaning roughly 234 m of the ascent is re-climbing after intervening descents or false flats. That undulation matters: every metre you give back must be earned again, so the legs never settle into a single steady rhythm. Treat this as a rolling climb with a net upward trend, not a smooth, uniform drag to the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.75% average is an accounting figure, not something you will feel for long. Because the profile undulates, the road alternates between pitches well above average and softer sections where the gradient eases or briefly points down. The single hardest ramp is far steeper than the mean and will spike your power sharply if you are caught in the wrong gear.

• Flatter and recovery sections where descents and false flats drop the effort well below average
• Repeated short climbs that force you back onto the gas after each dip
• A brief, very steep ramp — the maximum pitch — that demands your easiest gear and a controlled surge

Pacing Notes

Forget even speed here; the undulation makes it impossible to hold a constant pace without wild swings in effort. Aim instead for even effort, holding a target close to your sustainable power output on the sustained pitches and easing back on the descents rather than hammering them. Let momentum carry you into each dip, then meter the return climbs so you are not repeatedly spiking over threshold on the 234 m of re-ascent. If you have not set a recent number, run the FTP estimator first so your ceiling is real, not guessed.

Gearing

Gearing is dictated by the steepest ramp, not the average. At a maximum pitch this severe, a standard road setup will leave you grinding at low cadence and burning matches you cannot afford. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 — so you keep a spinnable cadence on the worst pitch. Check your setup before the ride; the summit is no place to discover you are over-geared.

Summary

• Length: 12.7 km
• Average gradient: 5.75%
• Maximum gradient: 33.18%
• Net elevation gain: 729 m
• Total ascent: 963 m
• Category: 1

Rotsteinpass rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace by effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the 234 m of hidden re-climbing as the real test rather than the tidy 5.75% average.