Muttenjoch

Muttenjoch cycling climb profile

Muttenjoch is an 8.8 km climb with an average gradient of 4.88%, starting at 1180 m and reaching 1609 m. The listed net elevation gain is 429 m, while the recorded total ascent is 394 m. On the road, the key takeaway is straightforward: this is not defined by a brutally high average gradient, but the 12.01% maximum gradient means it cannot be ridden as a steady tempo climb without some respect for the sharper pitches.

As a Category 2 climb, Muttenjoch sits in that useful middle ground where pacing discipline matters more than aggression. The average gradient invites riders to settle into a sustainable rhythm, but the gap between the 4.88% average and the 12.01% maximum tells you there are sections where the climb bites well above its headline number. If you ride it only by feel, those ramps are where the effort can drift too high and the final portion of the climb becomes more expensive than it needs to be.

How the gradient should shape your pacing

The sensible approach is to treat Muttenjoch as a controlled aerobic climb with short periods of higher torque demand. The 8.8 km length is long enough that early overpacing will accumulate, but not so long that you need to ride it defensively from the first pedal stroke.

A good pacing model is:

• Start below target effort until the gradient pattern is clear.
• Let speed fall on steeper ramps rather than forcing the same pace.
• Keep cadence stable where possible, especially once the road rises above the average gradient.
• Save the highest efforts for the final part of the climb, not the first steep section.

For riders using power, anchor the effort around a sustainable climbing intensity rather than chasing speed. If you are pacing by threshold, use /glossary/ftp as the ceiling for prolonged work, not the default setting from the bottom. The 12.01% maximum gradient is the reason: short spikes above target may be unavoidable, but repeated spikes will turn a moderate average climb into a much harder effort.

Gearing notes

Do not gear for the 4.88% average alone. That number makes the climb look manageable, but the maximum gradient argues for a compact or similarly forgiving setup if you want to stay seated and smooth on the steepest parts. The goal is not simply to get over the 12.01% pitch - it is to get over it without burning the match that should be saved for the upper slopes.

Muttenjoch rewards riders who keep the effort even when the road is not. Ride the average sections with restraint, absorb the steepest gradients with lower gearing, and use the climb’s moderate overall profile to build speed late rather than paying for impatience early.