Gredigs Fürggli

Gredigs Fürggli cycling climb profile

Gredigs Fürggli is an HC climb in Switzerland, and the numbers explain why. The ascent runs for 20.6 km, starts at 595 m, and reaches 2613 m, producing a net elevation gain of 2018 m. The average gradient is 9.78 percent, with a maximum gradient of 21.85 percent.

That combination makes this less about finding one decisive steep section and more about surviving the full weight of the climb. A near 10 percent average over 20.6 km leaves very little room for meaningful recovery. Even if the road eases in places, the climb has to keep paying back that gradient somewhere, and the stated maximum of 21.85 percent tells you the hardest ramps are well beyond steady threshold climbing.

How the gradient feels

The defining feature is sustained resistance. From the bottom, the road is already asking for a controlled effort rather than an aggressive start. Because the climb rises from 595 m to 2613 m, the workload is not just the gradient under the wheels - it is the accumulation of vertical gain over a long duration.

The average gradient is the key pacing signal. On a shorter climb, a rider can tolerate repeated surges above comfort and recover later. On Gredigs Fürggli, that approach becomes expensive quickly. A 20.6 km ascent at 9.78 percent means every over-paced minute has to be carried for a long time. The steepest pitches, up to 21.85 percent, should be treated as damage-control sections, not places to prove form.

Pacing strategy

Start below ambition. The opening part of a climb like this can feel manageable because the summit is still abstract, but the profile rewards patience. Ride the first phase as if the steepest ramps are still ahead, because with a maximum gradient of 21.85 percent, they may be.

A good pacing frame is to keep the effort anchored around sustainable climbing power, using /glossary/ftp as the reference rather than speed. Speed will be volatile on gradients this steep, and chasing it is a reliable way to burn matches too early. If cadence drops sharply on the harder ramps, accept the lower speed and keep the upper body quiet rather than forcing a surge.

Gearing notes

Bring easier gearing than you think you need. The average gradient alone justifies a low climbing setup, but the maximum gradient is the deciding factor. A gear that feels fine at 9.78 percent can become too large when the road tilts toward 21.85 percent.

The practical goal is simple: preserve cadence options. If the easiest gear still requires grinding early, the final portion becomes a strength-endurance test rather than a paced climb. On Gredigs Fürggli, success comes from keeping torque under control, limiting spikes, and arriving near the summit with enough composure to handle the last sustained effort to 2613 m.