Schufelberger Egg Pass

Overview

The Schufelberger Egg Pass is a Category 2 climb in Switzerland that covers 9 km from base to summit, gaining 548 m of net elevation and 561 m of total ascent. It starts at 492 m elevation and rises to 1,040 m — a modest summit by Alpine standards, but the gradient profile makes it a genuine test of pacing discipline.

At 6.07% average, this is not a grind-it-out slog, but neither is it forgiving. The 18.22% maximum gradient reveals a climb with at least one section that can shatter rhythm and drain reserves if you arrive at it too hot.

Gradient Breakdown

The 9 km distance at 6.07% average tells one story; the 18.22% peak tells another. A difference of more than 12 percentage points between average and maximum means the road is uneven in its demands. Expect sections of relatively manageable climbing — probably somewhere in the 4–6% range — interrupted by at least one sharp ramp that tilts well into the high teens.

This kind of profile rewards riders who:

• Resist the temptation to push hard on the easier lower slopes
• Read the road ahead and shift early before steep pitches arrive
• Recover actively on any gradient relief rather than surging

Pacing Notes

With a 9 km climb at this average gradient, total duration for most trained cyclists will fall in a range where aerobic capacity, not raw power, becomes the limiting factor. Start conservatively. A pace that feels easy in the first 3 km tends to be the right pace — the climb's steeper passages will extract what the early kilometres spare.

If you use power targets, anchor your effort to a sustainable percentage of your FTP. On a Category 2 climb of this length and character, efforts exceeding 95% FTP early on leave very little in reserve for the 18.22% ramp. If you're unsure of your current FTP, use the FTP estimator before planning your targets.

Gearing Recommendations

The 18.22% maximum gradient is the governing number for gearing selection. On a climb that briefly exceeds 18%, a compact chainset (50/34 or 46/33) paired with an 11-32 or wider cassette is sensible for most riders. Anyone on a standard double should ensure they have at least a 30-tooth sprocket available — mashing a too-small cassette through a steep ramp costs energy and risks blowing up the effort entirely.

For riders on gravel or endurance geometry bikes, a wide-range cassette covering into the 34–36 tooth range will make the steep sections manageable at a cadence that protects the legs.

Key Takeaways

• Length: 9 km
• Average gradient: 6.07%
• Maximum gradient: 18.22%
• Net elevation gain: 548 m
• Category: 2

The Schufelberger Egg Pass is a climb that rewards patience and punishes ambition. Treat the lower slopes as a warm-up, respect the maximum gradient when it arrives, and keep something back for the final push to the summit at 1,040 m.