Triebener Tauern Pass

Overview

The Triebener Tauern Pass is a Category 2 climb in Austria (AT), running 8.6 km from a base at 703 m to a summit of 1,274 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 571 m over the ascent, a figure that sits comfortably in the sustained-but-manageable range for a rider with a few longer climbs already in their legs. It is long enough to demand a real plan, short enough that you can afford to make a mistake and still recover.

Look past the net number, though. Total ascent on this climb is 889 m, which is 318 m more than the 571 m of net gain. That gap is undulation: the road gives elevation back and takes it again. You are not climbing a single clean ramp, you are climbing more than you would guess from the start-to-summit difference. Budget your effort for 889 m of vertical work, not 571.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.65% average is an accounting trick here. Because roughly 318 m of the ascent is undulating rather than net gain, the average smooths over both the shallow drags and the sharp kickers. The defining feature is a maximum gradient of 20.24%, a wall that is nearly three times the average and will spike your effort well beyond anything a steady 6.65% would suggest.

• Flatter or false-flat recovery sections where you can shift up and settle your breathing
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, the reason total ascent runs well above net gain
• One standout ramp hitting 20.24%, where cadence collapses if you arrive over-geared or over-cooked

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing an even speed is a trap: you will over-push on every ramp and coast the descents, burning matches you cannot get back. Pace to a steady, repeatable effort instead. Hold a target close to your sustainable power output on the sustained sections, allow controlled surges over the short steep pitches, and use the flatter recovery segments to bring your effort back down rather than to accelerate. If you do not know your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target for the day.

Gearing

The 20.24% maximum dictates your setup, not the average. Gear for the wall, not the mean. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low end to keep the pedals turning through the steepest ramp without grinding to a stall. Check your chainring and cassette combination before the ride: discovering you are one cog short halfway up a 20% pitch is a mistake you make only once.

Summary

• Length: 8.6 km
• Average gradient: 6.65%
• Maximum gradient: 20.24%
• Net elevation gain: 571 m
• Total ascent: 889 m
• Category: 2

The Triebener Tauern Pass rewards riders who respect the gap between its 571 m net gain and 889 m of total climbing. Pace to effort, gear for the 20% ramp, and the numbers will work in your favour.