From S. Caterina Valfurva, the climb to the Gavia Pass gains about 900 meters of elevation gain in just over 13 kilometers, with an average gradient of 6.5 percent and several easy, rideable sections interspersed with others that are decidedly challenging.

The Brescian side from Ponte di Legno, on the other hand, is the most difficult: along the 18 kilometers of road in fact, a gradient of 12 percent is also reached with a total elevation gain of about 1,380 meters.

More than once the "Cima Coppi" of the Giro d'Italia, the Gavia Pass has rightfully entered cycling history with the famous stage of June 5, 1988 when, under heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, Dutchman Johan Van der Velde, who was in a breakaway towards the finish in Bormio, tackled the Gavia dressed only in a cotton T-shirt, risking frostbite.

-

Ph: Juri Baruffaldi