Schobertörl

Schobertörl cycling climb profile

Schobertörl is a Category 1 climb that asks for patience more than aggression. The headline numbers are clear enough: 16 km in length, an average gradient of 6.64%, and a net elevation gain of 1065 m from 894 m to 1959 m. That puts it firmly in the long-climb category, where the limiting factor is not whether you can handle one hard ramp, but whether you can keep the effort under control for the full ascent.

The key detail is the gap between the average gradient and the maximum gradient. A 6.64% average is manageable on paper, but a maximum of 13.4% means the climb is not just a steady tempo drag from bottom to top. Even without kilometer-by-kilometer sector data, the profile points to a climb where the average hides sharper moments. If you pace it like a constant mid-six percent ascent, the steeper ramps are where you will pay for it.

How the gradient unfolds

From the start elevation of 894 m, Schobertörl gains steadily toward a summit elevation of 1959 m. With 1065 m of net gain over 16 km, the climb has enough vertical density to keep the pedals loaded almost the entire way. The listed total ascent is 1036 m, which reinforces the same practical reading: this is not a rolling climb where repeated descents reset the effort. It is essentially a sustained uphill problem.

The average gradient suggests a climb that can be ridden at threshold-adjacent intensity by a well-conditioned rider, but the 13.4% maximum gradient changes the pacing model. Those ramps will force torque spikes if you are over-geared, and they will punish anyone riding too close to /glossary/ftp early. The climb is best treated as a long aerobic ascent with short periods where you briefly accept a higher load, rather than a climb to attack from the base.

Pacing and gearing notes

Start conservatively. The first goal is to keep the opening effort below the power you think you can hold for the full 16 km. On a climb averaging 6.64%, it is easy to settle into a rhythm that feels sustainable early but becomes expensive once gradient changes push you above target.

Gearing matters because of the 13.4% maximum gradient. A compact or sub-compact setup, paired with a climbing-friendly cassette, gives you the option to stay seated and keep cadence from collapsing on the steepest sections. If your lowest gear only feels comfortable on a steady 6% grade, it will likely feel too big when the road reaches double digits.

A smart approach is simple:

• Ride the lower slopes at controlled tempo, not race effort
• Save cadence and gear range for the steepest ramps
• Let power rise briefly on the 13.4% sections, but avoid long surges
• Rebuild rhythm after each steep pitch instead of trying to win back time immediately

If you are estimating target power beforehand, anchor the effort to your known threshold rather than the average gradient. Tools like /tools/ftp-estimator can help set a ceiling, but the better execution is restraint: Schobertörl rewards the rider who arrives in the upper part of the climb still able to turn the gear smoothly.