Storeggpass

Overview

Storeggpass is an HC (hors catégorie) climb in Switzerland, running 13.3 km from a start elevation of 637 m to a summit at 1,724 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 1,087 m at an average gradient of 8.15%. Those numbers alone put it firmly in the hardest category of paved climbing: long, sustained, and steep enough that there is nowhere to hide once you commit.

But the average tells only part of the story. The total ascent is 1,709 m against a net gain of 1,087 m — a difference of 622 m. That gap means the road repeatedly loses altitude and claws it back, so you climb far more than the net figure suggests. Every metre of that extra 622 m is effort you pay for twice: once on the false descents that break your rhythm, and again on the sharp re-ascents that follow. Plan for the total, not the net.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 8.15% average hides a road that swings hard around it. With 622 m of hidden ascent baked into the profile, long stretches sit well above the average to compensate for the recovery dips. The steepest ramp is severe and short — the kind of pitch you can only survive at a walk-pace cadence.

• Flatter or descending recovery sections that interrupt your rhythm and tempt you to overspend on the way back up.
• Repeated short climbs where the road gives back altitude, then demands it again immediately.
• A single steepest ramp far above the average — attack it seated and spun, never standing and grinding.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like Storeggpass, even-effort beats even-speed every time. Chasing a constant speed means burning matches on the steep re-ascents and coasting on the dips — a recipe for blowing up. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the gradient. Ease slightly on the false descents to recover, then hold the same wattage through the steep pitches even as your speed collapses. Know your ceiling before you start: run the FTP estimator and set a target you can hold for the full 13.3 km, not just the first few kilometres.

Gearing

The steepest ramp governs your setup, not the average. For a pitch this severe, a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette is not optional — aim for at least a 34×32, and 34×34 if your rear derailleur allows it. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the cassette clears, the chain length is correct, and shifting is clean under load. Discovering you are over-geared halfway up is a mistake you cannot undo on the road.

Summary

• Length: 13.3 km
• Average gradient: 8.15%
• Net elevation gain: 1,087 m
• Total ascent: 1,709 m
• Category: HC

Storeggpass is a genuine HC test: long, steep on average, and made harder by 622 m of hidden ascent that the net figure conceals. Pace it by effort, gear it for the steepest ramp, and respect the total climbing rather than the summit height alone.