Verecke Pass

Overview

Verecke Pass is a category-3 climb that trades drama for consistency. Over 8.2 km it lifts you from 477 m to a summit of 843 m, a net gain of 366 m at an average gradient of 4.45%. The maximum pitch tops out at 7.24%, so nothing here is savage — but the near-continuous rise means the effort is honest and unrelenting rather than punchy. With a total ascent of 347 m recorded on the route, the climbing is packed into a clean, sustained arc rather than broken up by descents.

This is a climb you settle into. It rewards riders who can hold a rhythm, and it punishes anyone who treats a 4.45% average as an invitation to sprint the lower slopes.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Verecke Pass is its evenness. An average of 4.45% against a maximum of only 7.24% tells you the road rarely deviates far from its mean — there are no walls, and the steepest ramp is barely 3 percentage points above the average. Expect long stretches sitting right around that 4.45% figure, with the hardest section leaning briefly toward 7.24%.

Because the profile is so linear, the challenge shifts from surviving spikes to managing accumulated fatigue across all 8.2 km. The 366 m of net gain arrives gradually, giving you room to think — but also nowhere to hide if your early pacing was too ambitious.

Pacing Notes

Treat Verecke Pass as a threshold effort. Because the gradient sits so close to its 4.45% average for most of the 8.2 km, your power output can stay remarkably stable — ideal for pacing off your FTP. Aim to ride the bulk of the climb just under threshold, then release the reserve on the steepest 7.24% pitch.

If you are not sure of your current threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator. A steady climb like this exposes overcooked starts more than any other terrain, so knowing your ceiling before you begin is worth several minutes at the top. Hold something back through the first third, then let the effort creep up as the summit at 843 m draws closer.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 4.45% and maxing at 7.24%, a compact setup is plenty. A 34×32 will cover the sustained middle of the climb comfortably, letting you spin the long, even gradient without grinding. If you prefer to protect your legs on the 7.24% section — or you are carrying fatigue into the 8.2 km — drop to a 34×34 for extra insurance. Neither ratio is overkill here, but the 34×34 gives you a genuinely easy gear for the summit push toward 843 m. Choose based on how fresh your legs are, not on the modest maximum gradient.

Summary

Verecke Pass is a rhythm climber's category-3 test: 8.2 km of steady 4.45% gradient, a manageable 7.24% maximum, and 366 m of net elevation gain to a 843 m summit. Pace it off threshold, gear compact, and let its evenness work in your favour.

Length: 8.2 km
Average gradient: 4.45%
Max gradient: 7.24%
Start: 477 m
Summit: 843 m
Net gain: 366 m
Total ascent: 347 m
Category: 3