A brutal, little-known paved climb to a hydroelectric reservoir at 2,378 m, deep in the Zirknitztal above Großkirchheim in Carinthia's Mölltal — one of a trio of Austrian 'reservoir wall' climbs (with the Kölnbreinsperre/Malta and the Kaunertal) that gain more than 1,300 m in barely 15 km. Bar a single flat kilometre it is almost relentless double-digit gradient. Beyond the barrier the road slips into the Kleine Zirknitztal, a hanging valley of fairy-tale alpine scenery. No race has been near it; it earns its place on sheer difficulty (Super-Hors-Catégorie) and remote high-mountain beauty.
Großsee (Zirknitztal)
2378 m · Austria
Also: Zirknitztal · Grosssee · Großsee
High dead-end reservoir road; rideable roughly June–October
Open on the map →The side
| From | Length | Gain | Avg | Max | Cat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitteldorf | 14.8 km | +1373 m | 9.3% | ≈15% | HC |
From Mitteldorf
Hors catégorie≈22 hairpin bendsfaces SW
0–4%4–7%7–10%10–12%12%+
