Susten Pass

Overview

Susten Pass sits in Switzerland and is a hors catégorie (HC) effort, the top classification we assign. It runs 9.9 km from a start elevation of 1,376 m to a summit of 2,288 m, giving a net elevation gain of 912 m. On paper that is a short, sharp climb, and the numbers back it up: the average gradient is 9.18%, which is severe for a climb of this length.

The detail that reshapes the effort is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 912 m net, but you actually accumulate 1,581 m of total ascent over the 9.9 km. That difference of 669 m is elevation you gain, give back, and gain again. The road undulates hard. Expect descents and false flats mid-climb that reset your rhythm and force repeated re-accelerations, so the climb costs more than a 912 m net figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 9.18% average is a blend, not a constant. With 669 m of extra ascent folded into the profile, the road clearly rises and falls rather than settling into a steady grade. Some pitches run well above the average to compensate for the flatter and downhill portions.

• Recovery sections: expect false flats and short descents where the road gives back elevation.
• Repeated short climbs: the undulation means you tackle several distinct ramps rather than one continuous wall.
• The steepest ramp: the hardest pitches sit noticeably above 9.18%, so gear and pace for spikes, not the average.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a constant speed forces you deep into the red on every ramp and wastes the recovery the descents offer. Instead, hold a steady, sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the road.

Cap your surges on the steep pitches and keep pedalling through the flatter sections rather than coasting. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first and set a target you can hold across all 9.9 km, allowing for the repeated re-accelerations the undulation demands.

Gearing

With ramps running well above the 9.18% average, gear for the steepest pitches, not the mean. A compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline — think 34×32 or 34×34 to keep your cadence up when the road kicks. The repeated accelerations out of each dip make a low bailout gear even more valuable here than on a steady climb. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; you do not want to discover you are over-geared on the first steep ramp.

Summary

• Length: 9.9 km
• Average gradient: 9.18%
• Net elevation gain: 912 m
• Total ascent: 1,581 m
• Category: HC

Susten Pass is a short climb that rides long. The 9.18% average and HC billing tell you it is hard; the 1,581 m of total ascent against 912 m of net gain tell you why. Pace by effort, gear for the steep ramps, and treat every false flat as recovery you have earned.