Gotthard Pass: Cycling Climb

The climb · Switzerland

About Gotthard Pass

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Daniel Friebe’s Mountain High

Granite cobbles give the Tremola its character long before the Gotthard Pass is reached. This is the historic southern approach from Airolo, following the old road into the mountain rather than the modern alignment. Over the catalogue route’s 12.3 kilometres, the climbing is broadly sustained, but the changing road surface makes the effort feel less uniform than the profile suggests. The closer-set bends of the upper section create the familiar folded ribbon of road across the hillside.

On the cobbles, each turn offers a fresh angle on the stonework and the slopes below. The road’s construction becomes part of the scenery, its retaining walls and tightly arranged curves giving the ascent an unusually tangible sense of its past. Higher ground brings a barer setting as the route approaches the pass. The reward lies as much in following that distinctive road as in arriving at the top; Tremola gives an Alpine crossing a texture all its own.

01 / The ascent

Elevation profile

Start 1,191 m · Summit 2,081 m

Gradient by distance12.25 km / 890 m gain

0 km2.4 km4.7 km7.1 km9.5 km11.8 km

02 / The crux

Where it gets difficult

Choose a distance to find the steepest continuous section of the climb.

Steepest 500 m average

9.3%

Where to find it

6.30–6.80 km from start

Net height gained: 47 m
Section length: 500 m

The whole climb11.81 km

0 kmFinish

03 / The numbers

Climb statistics

Distance: 12.25 km
Elevation gain: 890 m
Average gradient: 7.4%
Climb category: HC
Start elevation: 1,191 m
Summit elevation: 2,081 m

Current weather

At the climb start

Loading weather…

Weather data: MET Norway

04 / Your effort

How long would it take?

Enter the power you could hold for the whole climb. We calculate a moving time from the elevation profile and the forces you ride against.

Sustained power

W/kg

Use your intended climbing effort, rather than FTP unless you can hold it for the predicted duration.

Rider weight (kg)

Bike + kit weight (kg)

Bike + kit includes clothing, bottles and luggage.

Advanced settings

Defaults represent a road-bike scenario. Adjust these settings to match your tyres, drivetrain and riding position.

Effective drag area (CdA) (m²)

Rolling resistance (Crr)

Drivetrain efficiency (%)

Modelled moving time

1 h 1 min

Power throughout: 225 W
Average speed: 11.7 km/h

Based on the 11.81 km elevation profile. Assumes steady power, with no stops, braking or drafting. Rounded to the nearest minute.

The science behind the calculation

For each part of the stored profile, we solve the steady-state cycling power equation for speed, then add distance ÷ speed across the climb. Gravity uses rider + equipment weight; available power is W/kg × rider weight. This uses the profile’s distance and elevation together, without mixing in another route’s metrics.

Power × efficiency = gravity + rolling resistance + air resistance + bearing losses

The resistance equations are adapted from Martin et al. (1998), Validation of a Mathematical Model for Road Cycling Power. Air density changes with profile altitude using NASA’s standard-atmosphere model. This calculator’s adaptation has not been independently validated.

It predicts travel at the power you enter, including on descents. It does not model acceleration, cornering, braking, traffic, wind, changing weather or fatigue. At altitude, choose power you can sustain there: thinner air reduces drag, but this model does not predict its effect on your ability to produce power. Profile quality and assumed equipment settings also affect the result.

05 / On the ground