Trattenjoch

Overview

Trattenjoch is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, and the numbers make the classification obvious the moment you read them. Over 13.6 km the road lifts you from 863 m at the base to a summit of 2451 m, a net elevation gain of 1588 m. The average gradient is a savage 11.64%, and the total ascent of 1521 m confirms that this is a climb with almost no relief built into it. There is no long false-flat runway here and no gentle valley approach to warm the legs — the demand is high from the first pedal stroke and it barely lets go until the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 11.64% average across 13.6 km is the headline, but averages hide the sharpest teeth. With a maximum gradient of 38%, Trattenjoch contains ramps that push well beyond what most riders can sustain seated. When a climb this long carries a double-digit average, the "easy" sections are still steep, and the steep sections become survival efforts. Expect the road to oscillate between sustained walls in the low-teens and short, brutal pitches that spike toward that 38% maximum. Because the net gain (1588 m) exceeds the total ascent figure (1521 m) only marginally, you can assume there is very little descending or flat recovery — nearly every metre of road is spent going up.

Pacing Notes

On a climb averaging 11.64% for 13.6 km, pacing is everything. Ride the opening kilometres well under your limit, because a climb this steep punishes early enthusiasm harshly — there is no flat section later where you can recover a blown effort. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on the sustained sections aim to sit just below threshold, and reserve a small buffer for the ramps toward the 38% maximum, where your power will briefly surge whether you want it to or not. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, use the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. On the steepest pitches, cadence will collapse regardless of gearing, so accept a slower turn of the pedals and focus on staying on top of the gear rather than grinding to a halt.

Gearing

Gear for the worst pitch, not the average. An 11.64% mean with a 38% maximum over 1588 m of climbing is exactly the terrain where compact gearing becomes non-negotiable. A 34×32 is the sensible minimum for most riders here, and even then the ramps toward the maximum will have you out of the saddle and short on cadence. If you have the option, fit a 34×34 — the extra sprocket buys you a crucial margin on the steepest walls and lets you keep spinning where a smaller cassette would force you into a strength effort you cannot repeat for 13.6 km. Bigger is better on Trattenjoch; nobody finishes wishing they had brought a harder gear.

Summary

Trattenjoch is a genuine HC monster: 13.6 km at 11.64%, spiking to 38%, hauling you 1588 m upward to a 2451 m summit. Pace it conservatively, gear it generously, and respect the walls.

Length: 13.6 km
Average gradient: 11.64%
Max gradient: 38%
Start: 863 m
Summit: 2451 m
Net gain: 1588 m
Total ascent: 1521 m
Category: HC