Waidring

Overview

Waidring is a Category 4 climb in Austria, running 10 km from a start elevation of 666 m to a summit at 959 m. On paper it reads as a modest effort: 293 m of net elevation gain across those 10 km, which is exactly the kind of number that makes a rider assume a steady, forgiving grind. The category backs that up, sitting at the entry end of the scale.

But the net figure is only part of the story. Total ascent on Waidring is 424 m, which is 131 m more than the net gain. That gap tells you the road doesn't climb cleanly from bottom to top; it undulates, giving back roughly 131 m of descent that you then have to reclimb. Every metre you lose is a metre you pay for again, so the effort here is meaningfully harder than the net gain alone would suggest.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 2.93% average is the most misleading number on this climb. An average that gentle implies you can sit and spin the whole way, but averages flatten the profile. With a maximum gradient of 17.42%, there is at least one ramp on Waidring steep enough to force you out of the saddle or into your easiest gear, and the descents in the undulation drag the average down and hide those spikes.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections where the road gives back elevation — use them, but don't coast so hard you have to fight momentum on the next rise.
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, the source of that 131 m of extra ascent.
• One steep ramp touching 17.42%, far above the 2.93% average — the pitch that decides your gearing.

Pacing Notes

On a smooth climb you can hold even effort and even speed at once. Waidring's undulation breaks that. If you chase even speed, you'll spike your power on every rise and blow up. Instead, pace to even effort: hold a steady sustainable power output and let your speed rise on the descents and drop on the ramps. Cap your surges on the 17.42% pitch rather than trying to defend a target pace. If you don't know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first and set a power range you can hold for the full 10 km.

Gearing

The 17.42% maximum, not the 2.93% average, governs your setup. Bring a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear will let you spin the steep ramp without grinding. Check your chainset and cassette before you ride; discovering you're over-geared halfway up a 17% pitch is not the place to find out.

Summary

• Length: 10 km
• Average gradient: 2.93%
• Maximum gradient: 17.42%
• Net elevation gain: 293 m
• Total ascent: 424 m
• Category: 4

Waidring is a Category 4 climb that behaves harder than its number. The gentle 2.93% average and 293 m net gain undersell a rolling profile with 424 m of total ascent and a 17.42% ramp. Pace it by effort, gear for the steepest pitch, and treat the undulation as the real challenge.