At the Stelvio Pass from May to November it is possible to ski on more than twenty kilometers of slopes, at 2758 meters of the Pass.

In addition to snow activities, one can engage in cycling, practiced along the hairpin bends of the spectacular road ordered by Emperor Franz II of Austria, who commissioned Carlo Donegani to build a road that could connect Valtellina to Val Venosta.

The Stelvio Pass is nestled in a natural park, characterized by needlewood forests, crystal-clear streams and lakes, and white perennial snows; these are the enchanting views one encounters along the road.

Legendary pages of cycling have been written here, linked to the champion: Fausto Coppi, who in 1953 performed one of the finest feats of his career, snatching the pink jersey from the Swiss Hugo Koblet.

The "traditional" climb is the one starting from Bormio (1225 m) winds through 34 hairpin bends and is about 21km long. If we consider the departure from Prato allo Stelvio, the route gets longer: about 25km and the hairpin bends are 48!

With "base" from Bormio, the first 3km are easy until you get to about the junction to Livigno, from here the road gets steeper.

You pass the bagni Vecchi di Bormio (1468 m) and proceed to the Gola del Braulio, here in fact the river of the same name has carved a gully characterized by bristly walls. The breathlessness begins to make itself felt, until the 8 km mark the climb remains constant (between 7% and 8%), but still rideable.

The middle part of the route begins: the most challenging but also the most spectacular a series of switchbacks between waterfalls and mountain ridges: this is the most scenic part of the climb.

The energies unravel and fatigue begins to set in, as if by mirage at 15 km a flat section begins where you can relax your legs by crossing a green valley. Past theoratory of San Ranieri (2343 m) you continue pedaling and the road allows you to catch your breath for about 2.5 km.

Your legs are now tired and after about 5 or more hours in the saddle, you come to a junction that leads to another equally important pass Passo Umbrail (Swiss border), the final stretch begins the last 4 km: all at 8-9% average gradient that seems the hardest given the altitude, the summit that never seems to arrive and the water in the water bottle that is now scarce.

The sign for the Stelvio Pass (2758m) arrives and the climb is finally over.
There are many cyclists who, in a moment of madness, decide to embark on this adventure. This is a mythical climb, once in a lifetime, one must pass through here a bit as if it were the "Mecca" of cycling.

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Cover image by Roberto Mantia

Departure: Bormio
Arrival: Stelvio Pass
Length: mt. 20800
Departure altitude: mt. 1233
Arrival altitude: mt. 2758
Height difference: mt. 1525
Average slope: 7.33 %
(Source: Grimpeur.it)

Slope graph