Vorder Höhi

Overview

Vorder Höhi is a genuine hors catégorie (HC) test, the hardest tier before the road runs out of numbers. Over 10.6 km it climbs from a base at 425 m to a summit of 1534 m, a net gain of 1109 m. The average gradient sits at a brutal 10.47%, which is not a figure softened by flat approaches or false flats — it is a sustained, relentless wall that rarely lets you off the hook. With a maximum pitch of 15.21%, this is a climb defined by its steepness rather than its length. Ten and a half kilometres at double-digit percentages is the kind of effort that rewards patience and punishes ego.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency of difficulty. A 10.47% average across 10.6 km means there is very little respite: for the gradient to sit that high on average, the easier sections must still be steep, and the hard sections push toward the 15.21% maximum. Expect the road to hover in the low double digits for long stretches, with the steepest ramps spiking almost five points above the average. Because the total ascent (1088 m) sits just below the net elevation gain (1109 m), the climb offers essentially no descending or flat recovery — every metre of road tilts upward. There is nowhere to freewheel and gather yourself, so the shape of the climb is best understood as one long, uninterrupted grind rather than a series of distinct stages.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and sustained, discipline in the opening kilometres decides everything. Ride the first third comfortably below your FTP — the temptation to match the gradient with a hard early effort will cost you dearly when the 15.21% ramps arrive. Because the pitch rarely drops, you cannot bank on recovery sections to recover heart rate, so your target power must be one you can genuinely hold for the full 10.6 km. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. Aim to finish the first half feeling like you are holding back; the 1109 m of climbing will extract whatever you have left in the closing kilometres regardless.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With a 10.47% average and ramps to 15.21%, a compact chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible minimum. A 34×32 will get most fit riders to the 1534 m summit, but on a climb this sustained a 34×34 gives you the extra spinning margin to protect your legs across the full 10.6 km. If your bike can accommodate an even larger sprocket, it is worth fitting for the steepest pitches — cadence, not force, is what keeps you moving on grades this severe.

Summary

Vorder Höhi is a pure climber's climb: steep, sustained, and unforgiving from base to top. Pace it conservatively, gear it generously, and respect the 1109 m of vertical between you and the summit.

Length: 10.6 km
Average gradient: 10.47%
Max gradient: 15.21%
Start: 425 m
Summit: 1534 m
Net gain: 1109 m
Total ascent: 1088 m
Category: HC