Katschberg Pass

Overview

The Katschberg Pass is a long, steady haul that hides real teeth behind an easygoing average. Over 18.9 km you gain 848 m net, rising from a 798 m start to a 1646 m summit. On paper the 4.5% average gradient reads as a tempo climb — the kind you can settle into and roll for the better part of an hour. But averages flatten the truth. With a max gradient of 15.35% and a total ascent of 836 m, this is a Category 2 effort that rewards a rider who paces the smooth sections and respects the steep ones. The length alone means it is a climb of patience first, punch second.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between a 4.5% average and a 15.35% max tells you almost everything about this climb's shape: it is uneven. A climb that averaged its maximum would be brutal and short, but here the mean sits low, so the steep pitches are balanced by long stretches of shallower grade where you can recover and find rhythm. Expect the effort to arrive in waves rather than as one relentless wall. The 848 m of net gain is delivered gradually across nearly nineteen kilometres, but a handful of ramps toward that 15.35% figure will spike your effort well above what the overall number suggests. Read the road ahead and save something for those bites.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Aim to hold a steady, sustainable effort just below your FTP on the shallower grades, then let your power drift upward only when the road tips toward that 15.35% max. Do not chase the steep ramps at threshold — you still have kilometres left after each one. If you are unsure where your ceiling sits, the FTP estimator will give you a working number to pace against. With 18.9 km ahead of you, an effort that feels comfortable in the first third should feel honest by the summit at 1646 m. Bank restraint early; spend it on the ramps.

Gearing

For a Category 2 climb of this length, gearing is about protecting your legs across the full 18.9 km, not just surviving the 15.35% max. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible default. A 34×32 will carry most riders through the steep pitches while keeping a reasonable cadence, but if you weigh toward the heavier side, favour endurance over pure power, or simply want insurance against fatigue late in the climb, step up to 34×34. That extra sprocket lets you spin rather than grind when the grade spikes near maximum, which matters most in the final kilometres when 848 m of accumulated climbing is already in your legs.

Summary

The Katschberg Pass is a climb of endurance punctuated by sharp efforts — a low 4.5% average that masks a 15.35% sting. Pace the smooth sections, gear for the ramps, and let the summit come to you.

Length: 18.9 km
Average gradient: 4.5%
Max gradient: 15.35%
Start: 798 m
Summit: 1646 m
Net gain: 848 m
Total ascent: 836 m
Category: 2