Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf

Difficulty points	676
Length	4.3 mi
Average gradient	8.1%
Steepest segment	21%
Total ascent	1844 ft

Reviews (9)

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adam12131 ^premium

9 Mo 2.0

Very challenging with some steep sections. A brand new tarmac done in 2024. Usually very heavy traffic, road is narrow with no side sleeves, so avoid it on summer weekends, as that is main alternative way to cross the border when Karavanken Tunnel is jammed.

gk3330

9 Mo 4.0 via the Climbfinder app

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: German. Show original

If there is little traffic in the morning, a nice but steep climb on good tarmac

gicif ^premium

9 Mo 5.0 via the Climbfinder app

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Italian. Show original

It is a short but tough climb. I really enjoyed it. It is shady, passes through forests, the asphalt is excellent and the traffic was acceptable. The descent to Podkoren is also very beautiful and worth a stop at the viewing platform. Do it, don't be afraid, it breaks your legs but in the end you will still be alive and very happy.

PawelGorski

1 y 1.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Polish. Show original

A nightmare, in Poland they say on such climbs " fuck me, what a fuck"
Our destination was slovenia vrsič and mangart. We rode hard with panniers, I thought I was going to break the chain, 20-something percent was killing us every minute. It's a climb for the biggest tough guys, cossacks. It's a real hustle and bustle!

Jaspervv

1 y 2.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

The climb is best known (or infamous) for the 17％ dash. I understood from a Slovenian that it might be steeper, but that 17％ is the maximum legally allowed, so they are not allowed to indicate higher. No idea if it's true. The road is otherwise quite busy with autos, and the views are not super. Fortunately, you can drive through to Slovenia, so you don't have to descend the same steep road. Definitely fun to tick off if you're in the area, but I'm definitely not going to do it a second time.

Fun

2 y 3.0

Extremely hard climb (with gradients of 20+％) on a very busy road.

Stef

5 y 3.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Huge hard climb especially in the diaphragm with 1km of 17％, this kilometer seems to have no end.

Conrad

5 y 2.0 00:56:30 (4.6 mph)

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

As a small child I had been over this pass many times by car. The image of boiling Lada Zastava's and Fiet's along the road was burned in my memory.
Once cycling through Austria, this pass had to be settled. On the other side the beautiful Slovenia with Planica and the Vrsic pass and I could take a nice shortcut to Italy to eat a pizza in Tarvisio.
Early on the bike because it would be very hot again, from home it is 45 km to the border on top of the mountain. The approach asks for strong legs a few times already, but it's mainly enjoying the Rosental and the quiet roads. The climb is in the forest and it doesn't look very dangerous, nothing could be further from the truth. Once on the way I am overtaken by some local riders about 150 m before the infamous right hand bend; the steepest part is yet to come man shouts number 1; Ich weiss I say resignedly.
If you then turn right you see a wall in front of you; 800 meters straight up.... A sign for the cars with the advice to put the car in first gear says enough.
I get out of the corner and after 25 meters I see the following on my odometer: 23％ I kick myself and continue at 4.5 km/h. This is a lot of hard work.
This was not what cycling was meant for, I think. I plod on and the speed goes down to 15 km/h... Then some more 20+ and the bunker museum comes in sight.
The pass is not long and I push myself because I want to reach the top within an hour. When you descend a bit you really feel the tension in your legs, another turn to the right and the party continues. This time with a maximum of 18％ and the knowledge that you will reach the top of the plateau in 500 meters....
The 18％ wasn't too bad. At the top, you roll relaxed to the border and because there are no more controls, I cycle on. I quickly overtake a car because I don't want them in front of me.
The descent to Podkoren is short and steep, because the bends have good visibility I can descend very quickly and I stop at the viewpoint to enjoy the view of the FIS track of Kranska Gora. Down I turn right on the way to Italy and whiz through the valley along the Sava. I cycle through the Valromana valley and accelerate to Tarvisio to enjoy a well deserved pasta on a terrace.
2 years later I do the route the other way around, the road surface of the Wurzenpas is terrible and very dangerous, fortunately it has been renovated but this descent is not recommended. A climb for self-chastisement and actually you should just choose the 40 km detour....

Als klein kind was ik al vaak met de auto over deze pas geweest. Het beeld van kokende Lada Zastava's en Fiet's langs de weg stond in mijn geheugen gebrand.
Eenmaal fietsend door Oostenrijk moest deze pas toch beslecht worden. Aan de andere kant het mooie Slovenie met Planica en de Vrsic pas en ik kon zo mooi binnendoor naar Italie om in Tarvisio een pizza te eten.
Al vroeg op de fiets want het zou weer erg warm worden, vanuit huis is het 45 kilometer naar de grens boven op de berg. De aanloop vraagt al een paar keer om sterke benen, maar het is vooral genieten van het Rosental en de rustige wegen. De klim ligt in het bos en het ziet er niet echt vervaarlijk uit, niets is minder waar. Eenmaal op weg wordt ik een 150 meter voor de beruchte haakse bocht naar rechts ingehaald door wat lokale rijders; het steilste moet nog komen man roept nummer 1; Ich weiss zeg ik berustend.
Als je dan rechtsaf draait zie je een muur voor je; 800 meter recht omhoog.... een bord voor de auto's met het advies om de auto in de eerste versnelling te zetten zegt genoeg.
Ik kom de bocht uit en na 25 meter zie ik op mijn odometer: 23％ staan, ik trap me een bult en ga met 4,5 km/h verder.
Afzien met hoofdletters, dit was niet waar fietsen voor bedoeld was denk ik. Ik ploeter door en het vlakt even af naar 15％... dan nog een stuk 20+ en het bunkermuseum komt in zicht.
De pas is niet lang en ik zet aan want ik wil wel binnen een uur boven zijn. Als je dan even een stukje afdaalt voel je pas echt de spanning op je benen, een volgende draai naar rechts en het feest gaat weer verder. Deze keer maximaal 18％ en de wetenschap dat je met 500 meter boven op het plateau bent....
Die 18％ viel eigenlijk wel mee. Boven rol je relaxt naar de grens en omdat er geen controle meer is fiets ik lekker door, ik haal nog snel een auto in want die wil ik niet voor me hebben.
De afdaling naar Podkoren is kort en heftig, doordat de bochten goed zicht hebben kan ik razendsnel afdalen en stop ik even bij het uitzichtspunt om te genieten van de blik op de FIS piste van Kranska Gora. Beneden draai ik naar rechts op weg naar Italie en suis door het dal langs de Sava. Slingerend door het Valromana dal gas erop naar Tarvisio om te genieten van een welverdiende pasta op een terrasje.
2 jaar later ga ik de route andersom, het wegdek van de Wurzenpas is verschrikkelijk en levensgevaarlijk, gelukkig is het inmiddels gerenoveerd maar deze afdaling is niet aan te raden. Een klim voor zelfkastijding en eigenlijk moet je gewoon de 40 kilometer omweg kiezen....

PeterMol ^premium

5 y 3.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

After a gentle start, you suddenly come face to face with a wall after a double hairpin bend: 1 kilometre 17％. Only the really strong or those who are really good at turning the smallest wheel can get up here in one go. A nice start to the Three-Alpine Tour.
However, not the most beautiful climb; in terms of beauty even the least beautiful climb of the whole tour ...

Climbing times

5 mph	00:52:16
7 mph	00:37:00
9 mph	00:28:50
12 mph	00:21:40

Road surface condition

63% 25% 13%

Based on 8 votes

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Traffic

25% 13% 63%

Based on 8 votes

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Frequently Asked Questions

Wurzenpass can be cycled from 2 sides. Wurzenpass from Podkoren is the most popular side, but the summit can also be reached via Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf.

Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf is a challenging ascent. For this type of climbing, we recommend mountain gearing, specifically a compact system. This means a small front chainring of 34 teeth, combined with a rear cassette where, depending on your level, strength, and experience, you choose a sprocket with 30, 32, or even 34 teeth. Remember that a smooth cadence is always more efficient!

Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf is a first-category climb: long and tough. Do not underestimate this climb. Many famous Tour de France cols fall into this category. Prepare for a long, challenging ride. Only well-trained riders will reach the top smoothly. Make sure you have a road bike with climbing gears and enough training; otherwise, it will be a struggle.

Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf is 4.3 mi long.

The average gradient of Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf is 8.1%.

Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf has a steepest segment with an average gradient of 21%.

The summit of Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf is at 3514 ft.

At a slow pace of 5 mph, it takes about 00:52:16 to climb Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf. At 7 mph the time is 00:37:00, and at 9 mph 00:28:50. For the fastest cyclists, 00:21:40 is an achievable time.

Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf is located in the region Carinthia in Austria.

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Photos (12)

Reviews (9)

Climbing times

Road surface condition

Traffic

Frequently Asked Questions

Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf

Statistics

Short recap

Photos (12)

Reviews (9)

Climbing times

Road surface condition

Traffic

Frequently Asked Questions

Which sides of the Wurzenpass can be cycled up?

What gearing is needed for Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf?

How difficult is the Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf?

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What is the gradient of Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf?

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How long does it take to cycle up Wurzenpass from Riegersdorf?

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