Stierkreuz

Overview

Stierkreuz is a Category 1 climb in Austria, running 8.6 km from a start elevation of 846 m to a summit at 1480 m. The net elevation gain is 634 m, and it carries an average gradient of 7.42% — enough to place it firmly among the sustained efforts that reward pacing over bravado.

The catch is the difference between what you gain and what you climb. The net gain is 634 m, but the total ascent is 1019 m. That gap — 385 m of climbing that gets given back and re-earned — tells you Stierkreuz undulates. You are not riding one clean ramp; you are climbing more than the summit height implies, and the descents in between break your rhythm rather than resting your legs. Budget for an effort heavier than the 634 m headline suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.42% average is a blend, not a constant. With 385 m of hidden re-climbing folded into the profile, the true steep sections sit well above the average, peaking at a maximum gradient of 20.78%. Expect the road to lull you before it bites.

• Flatter and false-flat sections where the grade drops below average, and short descents that surrender elevation you will pay back
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each resetting your rhythm
• The steepest ramp hitting 20.78%, a wall that demands you shift early and stay seated

Pacing Notes

On a clean climb you can hold even effort and let speed float. On Stierkreuz, the undulation makes even-speed pacing a trap — chasing a constant pace over the 20.78% ramps will spike you into the red. Anchor to even effort instead. Hold a steady sustainable power output through the steep pitches, let your speed rise on the flatter sections, and resist hammering the descents. Know your ceiling before you start; the FTP estimator will give you the number to pace against.

Gearing

The 20.78% maximum gradient governs your setup. That pitch, arriving on tired legs after repeated re-climbs, is where an undergeared bike forces you off the pedals. Run 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 wall instead of grinding. Check your chainring and cassette before the ride; the summit is no place to discover your smallest gear runs out.

Summary

• Length: 8.6 km
• Average gradient: 7.42%
• Maximum gradient: 20.78%
• Net elevation gain: 634 m
• Total ascent: 1019 m
• Category: 1

Stierkreuz is a Category 1 climb that hits harder than its net gain suggests. Pace to effort, gear for the 20.78% wall, and treat the undulation as the real opponent.