Kunkelspass

Overview

Kunkelspass is a short climb with a savage disposition. Over just 6.2 km it averages 12.47%, and that number alone tells you almost everything you need to know: this is not a road you settle into so much as one you survive. The road starts at 591 m and tops out at 1359 m, a net gain of 768 m packed into a distance most riders could cover in a warm-up on flatter terrain. The category is HC — hors catégorie, the hardest rating there is — and it earns the label honestly. There is no gentle valley approach to hide behind here; the difficulty is front and centre from the first pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Kunkelspass is the sheer consistency of its cruelty. A 12.47% average across 6.2 km leaves little room for recovery, and the pitch spikes to 19.3% at its worst — nearly seven points above an average that is already brutal. Think of the climb as a sustained wall with periodic ramps that bite even harder. Because the net gain (768 m) sits above the total ascent figure of 729 m, you can expect the road to press upward almost without pause, offering no meaningful descents to break the rhythm. Riders should treat every steeper ramp as a moment to manage rather than attack, because the average will keep punishing you long after each one passes.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is really power management. Your FTP is the single most useful number to know before you start, because a 12.47% average forces you toward the upper end of your sustainable output whether you like it or not. If you do not have a recent figure, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first. The goal is to hold a steady effort just under threshold on the average sections and absorb the 19.3% ramps without redlining — surging on a wall this steep costs far more than it gains. With only 6.2 km to cover, the temptation is to go hard early; resist it, because the gradient does the accelerating for you.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. A 12.47% average that spikes to 19.3% will overwhelm modest setups fast. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible starting point: 34×32 is the minimum most fit riders will want, and 34×34 gives you the extra spin to keep cadence alive on the steepest ramps. If your legs are anything short of race-fresh, err toward the easier 34×34 — spinning a low gear beats grinding to a standstill on a 19.3% pitch.

Summary

Kunkelspass is a compact, uncompromising HC climb: 6.2 km that never lets up, averaging 12.47% and peaking at a leg-breaking 19.3%. Gear low, pace by power, and respect the wall.

Length: 6.2 km
Average gradient: 12.47%
Max gradient: 19.3%
Start: 591 m
Summit: 1359 m
Net gain: 768 m
Total ascent: 729 m
Category: HC