Sudelfeld hill Pass road

Overview

Sudelfeld Pass road is a Category 2 climb in Germany, running 12 km from a start elevation of 538 m to a summit at 1,115 m. The net elevation gain is 577 m, and the average gradient across the full ascent works out to 4.79%. Those headline numbers place it firmly in the middle-distance bracket: long enough to demand pacing discipline, but never so steep on average that it becomes a pure grind from the base.

The important detail is the gap between the 577 m of net elevation gain and the 884 m of total ascent. That 307 m difference means the road gives back roughly 307 m of descending across the climb — the profile undulates rather than rising cleanly. You will do measurably more vertical work than the net figure suggests, and every metre lost on a false flat or dip has to be re-climbed. Plan your effort around the 884 m of real work, not the 577 m on the signpost.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.79% average is a blend, not a constant. With a maximum gradient of 18.75%, there are pitches more than three times steeper than the average — and the descents baked into the 884 m total ascent drag the mean downward, hiding those ramps.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road dips or levels, offering the roughly 307 m of descending inside the climb
• Repeated short climbs stacked between those dips, so you settle into a rhythm and then break it again
• The steepest ramp at 18.75%, where you will be out of the saddle or spinning your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

Because this climb undulates, even-speed pacing will wreck you — holding a constant speed forces huge surges on the steep ramps. Ride to even effort instead. Anchor your work rate to your sustainable power output and let your speed rise on the shallow, descending sections and fall on the 18.75% pitches. Don't fight the dips; roll them and recover.

If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go. On a climb with 884 m of total ascent, going 20 watts too hard in the first 3 km costs you far more than it saves.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your setup here. At 18.75%, a standard road compact alone will leave you grinding. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 — so you keep a survivable cadence on the steep ramps rather than mashing at 50 rpm. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; you cannot swap gears on the ramp.

Summary

• Length: 12 km
• Average gradient: 4.79%
• Maximum gradient: 18.75%
• Net elevation gain: 577 m
• Total ascent: 884 m
• Category: 2

Sudelfeld Pass rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace to effort, gear for the 18.75% ramp, and treat the 884 m of total ascent as the real target.