Hochalpljoch

Overview

Hochalpljoch is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest rung on the classification ladder before you run out of numbers. It runs 17.8 km from a valley floor at 791 m up to a summit at 2309 m, a net gain of 1518 m. The average gradient of 8.53% is the number that defines it: not a wall that relents into flat recovery, but a relentless, sustained grind that rarely gives your legs a break. Over nearly eighteen kilometres, an 8.53% mean is the kind of figure reserved for the sport's most feared ascents. This is a full-afternoon effort, not a punchy detour.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 8.53% hides real venom. With a maximum pitch of 29.69%, there are ramps here steep enough to have you out of the saddle, weaving for traction, wondering if your gearing is deep enough. That 29.69% spike is more than three times the average, which tells you the climb is not evenly graded — it pulses between merely hard and genuinely savage.

There's a small tell in the elevation figures worth noting: the net gain is 1518 m, but the total ascent is 1476 m. Because the total ascent is slightly less than the net figure, the profile is almost entirely uphill with essentially no descending or false-flat give-back — every metre of vertical is earned in one direction. Plan for the steep pitches to arrive without much warning, and keep a mental note that above the tree line, near the 2309 m summit, thinner air will quietly tax whatever you have left.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Your best tool is your FTP — hold a steady, sustainable percentage of it rather than chasing the steep ramps. Riders who surge on every 29.69% pitch pay for it dearly across 17.8 km. If you don't know your threshold power, spend five minutes with the FTP estimator before you plan your day.

The tactic is simple: bank nothing, spend evenly. Let the gradient dictate cadence, not your ego. Absorb the steepest sections by dropping gears early and keeping your effort near threshold, then settle back into rhythm once the pitch eases toward the 8.53% average.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With sustained 8.53% grades and spikes to 29.69%, a compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front choice, and the question is only how much rear cassette you bring. A 34×32 is the floor — usable for strong climbers who can hold high torque, but it will feel marginal on the steepest ramps. Most riders will be far happier on a 34×34, which lets you spin rather than grind when the road kicks toward 29.69%. Given the 1518 m of climbing ahead, err toward the easier ratio; your knees will thank you long before the summit.

Summary

Hochalpljoch earns its HC label honestly: long, steep, and unforgiving from 791 m to 2309 m. Come with deep gears, a paced plan, and respect for the 29.69% ramps.

Length: 17.8 km
Average gradient: 8.53%
Max gradient: 29.69%
Start: 791 m
Summit: 2309 m
Net gain: 1518 m
Total ascent: 1476 m
Category: HC