- Ascent
- 929 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 12 km
- max. gradient
- 10 %
- ø gradient
- 7.7 %
The Nassfeldpass from Tröpolach is an HC climb of 12 km with 929 m of elevation gain at an average of 7.7 %, peaking at 10 %. The road climbs out of the Gail valley to the Italian border at 1,530 m and drops on the far side to Pontebba. At its core is a block of about seven kilometres at 8 to 10 %.
The Nassfeldpass climbs from the Gail valley in Carinthia to the Italian border. From Tröpolach it is 12 kilometres and 929 metres of climbing up to 1,530 metres. The 7.7 % average and the 10 % peak are close together: the climb has no single hard spot, it is steep all the way. Its core is a long block in the middle.
The Nassfeldpass at a glance
The key figures from Tröpolach: category HC, 12 km, 929 m of climbing, 7.7 % on average and 10 % at its steepest. The road leaves the Gail valley heading south and climbs to the pass at 1,530 m on the border. On the Italian side it drops down to Pontebba. In our list the Nassfeldpass belongs to the Eastern Alps region.
The climb from Tröpolach
The first kilometre is the easiest, then the gradient picks up quickly. After about three kilometres the core section begins: around seven kilometres in which the gradient almost always sits between 8 and 10 %. Several kilometres here are right at the 10 % mark. There is nothing to rest on in this part.
Only the last kilometre before the pass gets calmer again, at around 6 %. That makes the end of the climb clearly easier than its middle. Anyone who got through the core section at a steady pace will reach the top without trouble. The profile is simple to read: warm up, one long block, a gentle finish.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
With 929 m of climbing and 12 km the Nassfeldpass is one of the smaller climbs in the list, 76 have more elevation gain. At 7.7 % on average it is up front, only 26 climbs are steeper. The 10 % peak is the lowest of all 28 climbs in the Eastern Alps, and across the whole list only three climbs have their average and peak closer together. The Col de Sarenne has a similar format with 12.8 km and 995 m at 7.8 %, but peaks at 13.5 %.
Practical tips
The Nassfeldpass needs no extreme gearing, but one that lets you spin 8 to 10 % for half an hour or more. Save your strength on the first kilometres, the core section comes soon enough. At 1,530 m it is only moderately high, a windproof layer for the descent is usually enough. Carry on over the border and you roll down to Pontebba, the way back to Tröpolach is the same road.
