Schnepfegg

Overview

Schnepfegg is a short, steep Category 2 climb in Austria. It covers just 1.2 km, but packs a net elevation gain of 171 m into that distance, rising from a start elevation of 738 m to a summit at 909 m. At an average gradient of 14.1%, it belongs to the class of climbs where distance means little and gradient means everything — a wall you clear in minutes but feel for far longer.

The headline number hides the shape of the effort. While the net gain is 171 m, the total ascent is 255 m — a gap of 84 m. That difference tells you the road undulates: you climb, give some height back, and climb again. Every metre you descend is a metre you have to re-earn, so the actual vertical work is roughly 50% more than the net figure suggests. Do not pace this off the average.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 14.1% is already brutal, but averages smooth over the reality. On Schnepfegg the maximum gradient hits 25.8%, and the undulation means the steep pitches are broken up by shallower and even downhill sections that let you carry speed — or bleed rhythm if you misjudge them.

Expect the profile to look roughly like this:

• Short flatter or downhill breaks where the road briefly relents and you can shift up
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each demanding a fresh surge
• A steepest ramp at 25.8% that will force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On a smooth climb you would ride even effort and let speed float. Schnepfegg's undulation complicates that. Chase even speed and you will spike well over your sustainable power output on every ramp, then coast the dips — a recipe for blowing up before the summit. Instead, hold a steady effort on the climbs and accept that your speed will swing wildly.

Use the downhill and flatter breaks as genuine recovery, not places to attack. Know your ceiling before you start: run the numbers through the FTP estimator so you can cap your surges on the 25.8% pitch rather than discovering your limit halfway up.

Gearing

Gearing here is governed by the steepest ramp, not the average. At 25.8% you need mechanical margin to keep the cranks turning at a survivable cadence. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 as a minimum, 34×34 if you have any doubt about your legs or the day.

Check your setup before the ride, not at the base of the wall. Confirm your smallest chainring and largest sprocket actually engage cleanly under load; the steepest metres of Schnepfegg are the worst possible place to discover a gap in your range.

Summary

• Length: 1.2 km
• Average gradient: 14.1%
• Maximum gradient: 25.8%
• Net elevation gain: 171 m
• Total ascent: 255 m
• Category: 2

Schnepfegg rewards riders who respect the shape of the effort rather than the length of the climb. It is over quickly, but the 84 m gap between net gain and total ascent, combined with a 25.8% maximum, means even-effort pacing and the right gearing decide whether you reach the summit strong or in pieces.