Geyersattel

Overview

Geyersattel is a category 3 climb in Austria, running 7.1 km from base to summit. It starts at 332 m and tops out at 661 m, for a net elevation gain of 329 m. On paper that is a moderate ascent — enough to register on a ride but not the kind of number that dominates a day in the saddle.

The catch is in the total ascent. While the net gain is 329 m, the climb accumulates 479 m of vertical over its length — roughly 150 m of extra climbing hidden inside the profile. That gap means Geyersattel undulates: you gain, give some back on short descents or false flats, then climb again. The effort is choppier than a single 329 m drag, and your legs feel every one of those re-climbs.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.64% average is a blended figure that flattens out real variation. With 150 m of hidden re-climbing folded in, long stretches sit well below average while short sections spike hard. The steepest ramp hits 16.31%, more than three times the average — a pitch you cannot spin over casually.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly tips downhill, dragging the average down
• Repeated short climbs that follow those dips, each one asking for a fresh surge
• The steepest ramp at 16.31%, a sharp gradient that will force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Trying to hold a constant pace means overcooking the 16.31% ramp and coasting the flatter sections — the worst of both. Instead, anchor your ride to a target power and let speed float: faster on the shallow bits, slower on the steep ones, but consistent load throughout.

Set that target from your sustainable power output so the steep pitches sit inside your aerobic ceiling rather than repeatedly spiking you into the red. If you do not have a current figure, use the FTP estimator to establish one before you pace this climb.

Gearing

Your gearing should be governed by the 16.31% ramp, not the 4.64% average. That gradient is steep enough to stall an underbiked rider. Run a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you the range to keep cadence up on the ramp without grinding. Check your setup before the ride so you are not discovering your bottom gear halfway up the steepest pitch.

Summary

• Length: 7.1 km
• Average gradient: 4.64%
• Maximum gradient: 16.31%
• Net elevation gain: 329 m
• Total ascent: 479 m
• Category: 3

Geyersattel is a short, undulating category 3 with a deceptively gentle average and one genuinely steep ramp. Pace it by effort, gear it for the 16.31% pitch, and the 150 m of hidden re-climbing will cost you far less.