Wissegg

Overview

Wissegg is a long, steady category 2 climb that rewards patience over punch. Over its 16.8 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 416 m to a summit at 1059 m, a net elevation gain of 643 m. The average gradient of 3.83% reads gentle on paper, and for long stretches it is — but that number hides a sharpest pitch of 11.99%, so the effort is far from uniform. With a total ascent of 626 m recorded across the route, Wissegg is the kind of climb that quietly accumulates fatigue rather than delivering it in one blow. Come in expecting a rhythm test, not a wall.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 3.83% average and the 11.99% maximum tells the whole story: this is an uneven climb. Because the total ascent of 626 m is slightly less than the 643 m net gain, the road isn't purely uphill — there are flatter shelves and brief levelling-off sections woven through the 16.8 km, which is exactly why the average sits low. Expect the climb to breathe: shallow drags where you can sit and spin, punctuated by steeper ramps that spike toward that near-12% maximum. Those ramps are where the climb is won or lost. Hold a smooth cadence on the easy gradients so you have the legs to absorb the steep bites without blowing apart.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the urge to chase the early shallow sections too hard — at 16.8 km, minutes saved at the bottom cost you double near the top. Aim to ride the flatter drags just below threshold, then allow short surges over threshold on the ramps toward 11.99%, settling back once each pitch relents. If you're not sure what your sustainable power is, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go so your target wattage is honest rather than optimistic. The 643 m of climbing spread over nearly 17 km means this is squarely a tempo-to-threshold effort — meter it, and the summit at 1059 m arrives sooner than the distance suggests.

Gearing

Don't be lulled by the 3.83% average — gear for the 11.99% maximum, not the mean. For most fit riders a compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 bottom gear will cover the steep ramps comfortably while leaving usable range for the shallow sections. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance for the near-12% pitches late in the 16.8 km, step up to a 34×34. The steeper gearing keeps your cadence spinning and your knees happy when the road kicks up after you've already banked several hundred metres of the 626 m total ascent.

Summary

Wissegg is a long, rhythm-driven category 2 climb: 16.8 km of mostly moderate gradient with a handful of genuinely steep ramps that demand respect. Pace it to your threshold, gear it for the steep bits, and let the low average work in your favour.

Length: 16.8 km
Average gradient: 3.83%
Max gradient: 11.99%
Start: 416 m
Summit: 1059 m
Net gain: 643 m
Total ascent: 626 m
Category: 2