Int. Kitzbüheler Horn Berg Radrennen.
The Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb is an individual time trial that only goes up: from Höglern on the toll road to the Alpenhaus, on the same road the Tour of Austria uses for its Kitzbüheler Horn stage finish. You gain 865 metres in 7.2 kilometres, and with nobody to ride with, the result comes down to how well you meter your own effort.
No date has been announced for the next edition yet. The course, elevation and route profile are from the most recent edition.
Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start is at Höglern, at about 800 metres, and the gradient begins roughly a hundred metres later and does not let up until the line. For close to seven kilometres the paved toll road climbs at an average of 12.6 percent. There is no flat stretch and not a single metre of descent, only short ramps that get steeper still, topping out at 22.3 percent. The Alpenhaus, where the clock stops, sits at around 1,665 metres.
Riders set off alone at 20-second intervals. That puts somebody just ahead of or just behind you for most of the climb, yet the race is against the clock, not against them. Results are split into licence classes under Austrian cycling federation rules, sport classes and juniors, plus a separate class for gravel bikes.
Once you cross the line, the riding is done. You collect your number at the Hornbahn, your clothes are taken up to the Alpenhaus, and every participant rides the Hornbahn back down to the valley for free. The steep toll road is one you only need to know in one direction.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 6.7 km | 12.6 % | 16.4 % | +844 m | HC |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb.
Sit in early
Because the road is steep from the first kilometre and never eases, there is nowhere to recover from an opening that was too hard. Whatever output you settle on after Höglern has to last all the way to the Alpenhaus. At twelve to thirteen percent on average the speed is low and aerodynamics barely matter; what counts is even pressure on the pedals and a gear that lets you spin seated.
Ration your effort
The time is won or lost in the second half, when fatigue meets the short ramps of up to 22.3 percent. Get over them with a brief stint out of the saddle, without turning them into an attack, and settle straight back into your sustained effort. Riders who still hold their power near the top gain most of their seconds there.
Race the finale
The real trap is the 20-second start gap. You often see the rider ahead for a long time, and reeling them in feels like progress; a rider coming past from behind tempts you to go with them. On this gradient either move costs more than it returns. Ride to feel or to a power number, not to the back in front of you.
Training plan for Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb: 12-week build
Build endurance
For most amateur riders the climb takes around 40 to 80 minutes. It is one unbroken effort at threshold, almost entirely aerobic, with brief excursions above it on the short steep ramps. There are no breaks, descents or group riding to change the rhythm the way they do on most courses.
Train the climbs
What decides the result is whether you can still produce the same power after half an hour at this gradient. On double-digit slopes your cadence drops and the force on every pedal stroke rises, and that combination tires you differently from a time trial on the flat.
Ride race-specific
Build your preparation around long threshold intervals of 15 to 30 minutes on the steepest steady climbs you can find. Add low-cadence work and a few short, hard efforts on even steeper pitches so that the ramps above 20 percent do not knock you out of rhythm. Riding one full ascent of a comparable climb before race day gives you a realistic power target. Use it to check your gearing too, especially if you are entering the gravel class.
Arrive fresh
Since you start alone, you bring your own warm-up to the line. Plan the trip from number pick-up at the Hornbahn to Höglern so that 20 to 30 minutes remain for riding in, and put whatever you need after the finish at the Alpenhaus and for the cable car down into the clothing transport.
Courses
Download the Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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Everything about Int. Kitzbüheler Horn Berg Radrennen.
How long is Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb?
Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb is 7.2 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb have?
Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb has around 865 m of elevation gain over 7.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb?
Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb is classified as Mountainous, averaging 121.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 4% of the route is flat, 2% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 94% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb have?
The hardest climb of Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb starts at kilometre 0.1, runs for 6.7 km at an average of 12.6% and gains 844 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC.
Is Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb a loop course?
No, Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb course?
Yes. The Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb?
Preparation for Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb should account for 7.2 km, 865 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb?
The pacing strategy for Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb should reflect 7.2 km, 865 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Int. Kitzbüheler Horn Berg Radrennen next take place?
No date has been announced for the next edition yet. The most recent one was held on July 25, 2026.
Where does Int. Kitzbüheler Horn Berg Radrennen take place?
Int. Kitzbüheler Horn Berg Radrennen takes place in Kitzbühel, Austria.
How do I register for Kitzbüheler Horn Hillclimb?
Registration runs through the organiser: kitzsport.at. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
