Zwinglipass

Overview

Zwinglipass is a category 1 climb in Switzerland, running 12.8 km from a start elevation of 507 m to a summit at 1349 m. On paper that is a net elevation gain of 842 m at an average gradient of 6.56% — a serious, sustained ascent that sits firmly in the range where a full climb takes real commitment rather than a single hard effort.

The number that reshapes the day is total ascent. You climb 1022 m in total but only gain 842 m net, meaning roughly 180 m of that vertical is spent re-climbing ground you gave back on descents and false flats. That undulation matters: the average gradient understates the pitches you actually push against, and every metre of descent is a metre you have to earn twice. Plan for more work than the net figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.56% average hides both the recovery and the pain. Because 180 m of the total ascent comes from re-climbs, the profile is not a smooth ramp — it dips, flattens, and kicks. The steepest ramp reaches 19.13%, far above what the average implies, and that is where your gearing and pacing decisions are made or broken.

• Flatter and descending sections that drag the average down but cost you rhythm
• Repeated short climbs that reset your legs and force fresh accelerations
• A steepest ramp at 19.13% that demands your lowest gear and a measured surge

Pacing Notes

On an evenly graded climb, even-speed and even-effort pacing nearly converge. Zwinglipass is not that climb. With 180 m of undulation, chasing an even speed will spike your power on every rise and waste matches you need later. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output and let your speed fluctuate — accept slower crawls on the 19.13% ramp and faster rolling on the recoveries. Know your ceiling before you start; the FTP estimator gives you the number to anchor your effort to across all 12.8 km.

Gearing

The 19.13% maximum ramp governs your setup, not the 6.56% average. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low end to keep a cadence above a grind when the road pitches into the high teens. Spinning a survivable gear beats muscling an oversized one and blowing up. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; the summit is no place to discover you are two teeth short.

Summary

• Length: 12.8 km
• Average gradient: 6.56%
• Maximum gradient: 19.13%
• Net elevation gain: 842 m
• Total ascent: 1022 m
• Category: 1

Zwinglipass rewards riders who pace to power and gear for the steepest ramp, not the average. Respect the 180 m of hidden re-climbing, hold your effort steady, and the summit at 1349 m comes on your terms.