Pragel Pass - Riedern

Started from Glarus. The section to Klontalersee is challenging with 1km showing an average slope gretert than 10%. The flat section next to the beautiful klontalersee allows you to perk up and reload energy. The 12 remaining kilometers are overall fairly steep but irregular. There is challenging wall 2-3 kilometers before you reach the top. It might be 500-meter long. this is just after crossing a small bridge in a long curve on the left. Gradients might range from 12 to 15%. I climbed at an average speed of 13km. Quite slow. The descent to Schwyz is nerve-wracking as road is narrow, poorly paved and curvy. Then I cycled to Zug and took a train back to Zurich. 75km at a 21km average speed. Klausenpass is defintely nicer from a scenery/landscape perspective. It''s tougher as well.

My personal climb rating:

I underestimated the difficulty of this climb, but it''s a great ride. We did it from Glarus and rode back down the same side. The road is steep and maintains a steep pitch for fairly long stretches. It does not have the switchbacks that other passes have and I think this is partly why it is so steep.

There are two sections - up to the lake and then above the lake up to the top. They are similar in pitch but the upper section is longer and in fact it goes on and on without any indication of how much farther you need to go. A sign said that the road was 18% in one spot but it did not feel quite that steep. The road is crazy narrow, and the upper section is more like a paved path.

The top is a pleasant, wide open meadow with happy cows and typical Swiss scenery. The scenery is not as dramatic as nearby Klausenpass. In fact, the two climbs are very different in their character.

The decent is a bit sketchy. The narrow road is problematic when a car is coming your way. There are cattle grates and poor pavement in spots. Descending will occupy your full attention.

This is probably the hardest pass I''ve ridden. I enjoyed it (in that odd way that cyclists do) but I missed the high alpine scenery that the other passes have.

My personal climb rating:

I climbed the Pragel in combination with the Klausenpass. It was a very hot day. The Climb is on very narrow road and has some really hard sections. It kinda gives you the impression as if youre never gonna reach the top. Some of the climb rises through a forest which protects you a against the sun. In the upper part you''re fully exposed to the sun. The profile might not seem that dramatic but the weather conditions and the length can make it a torture.

My personal climb rating:

took the train to Glarus, just below where this profile starts. Just getting up to the klontalersee is no joke- relentless gradient. Then you can have a nice swim if the weather is good. Today it wasnt. Then its more steepness, and more and more. Then just when you think youve bitten off more than you can chew, the top. Today, no view of any kind, just light drizzle and see-your-breath cold air. Then its about 33kms of holding tight and getting cold hands on the way down the other side to Schwyz. This was the biggest pass Ive ever tackled, and my legs were very empty afterwards. I think I took about 5 hours Glarus to Schwyz. On a sunny day with a friend this could be a gorgeous ride.

My personal climb rating: