Tungelpass

Overview

Tungelpass is a Category 1 ascent that packs serious punishment into its 10.3 km. From a start elevation of 1171 m, the road grinds upward to a summit at 2077 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 906 m over the climb. The average gradient sits at a relentless 8.8%, and that number alone tells you plenty: this is not a climb where you settle into a comfortable rhythm and spin to the top. It is steep from bottom to top, and it demands respect.

At Category 1, Tungelpass sits just one rung below hors catégorie, the hardest classification. The total ascent of 887 m confirms there is little relief along the way — the profile keeps pointing up rather than rolling. What sets this climb apart, though, is not the average. It is the peak. A maximum gradient of 29.32% lurks somewhere on the mountain, a wall steep enough to stall a rider who arrives at it already in the red.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of Tungelpass in terms of its shape rather than any single figure. Averaging 8.8% across 10.3 km means the climb rarely lets up — sustained double-digit stretches are almost certainly interspersed with brief softer sections that pull the average down. Those easier moments are your only chance to recover, and they will be short.

The 906 m of net gain against 887 m of total ascent tells you the road climbs almost continuously, with negligible descending to give back altitude. And then there is the 29.32% maximum. A pitch that severe is a different category of effort entirely: it turns a steady tempo climb into a survival exercise. Whether it comes early, in the middle, or near the 2077 m summit, you want to reach it with something in reserve.

Pacing Notes

Pace Tungelpass off your FTP, not off feel. At 8.8% average over 10.3 km, this is a long, sustained effort, and going out too hard in the first kilometre will cost you dearly when the gradient bites. Aim to hold a steady sub-threshold effort on the sustained sections and consciously back off before the 29.32% wall so you can absorb it without blowing apart.

If you are not sure what your threshold power is, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle the climb. Knowing your ceiling lets you budget effort across all 906 m of gain rather than guessing and paying for it near the top.

Gearing

Gear for the wall, not the average. A climb averaging 8.8% with a 29.32% maximum will overwhelm anything too tall. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained 8.8% pitches, but the moment the road ramps toward 29.32% you will want more.

For that reason, favour a 34×34 if your derailleur can handle it. That extra sprocket is cheap insurance against grinding to a halt on the steepest ramp, and it lets you keep a survivable cadence all the way to 2077 m.

Summary

Tungelpass is a short-but-brutal Category 1 climb defined by its sustained 8.8% gradient and a shocking 29.32% maximum. Come with low gears, a disciplined pacing plan, and respect for the wall.

Length: 10.3 km
Average gradient: 8.8%
Max gradient: 29.32%
Start: 1171 m
Summit: 2077 m
Net gain: 906 m
Total ascent: 887 m
Category: 1