Page Contributor(s): Benjamin Wohlwend, Switzerland; Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland.
Page Contributor(s): Benjamin Wohlwend, Switzerland; Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland.
Cycling Passo Dello Stelvio, Prato
Climb summary by PJAMM’s John Johnson.
Stelvio may offer the Greatest Switchback Views Anywhere - And here it is - one of the most famous cycling views of all time - immediately recognizable as the incomparable STELVIO.
Approach to the pass from Prato Allo (northern approach).
Hairpins 14 (bottom right) to Hairpin 1 (right top center).
Before heading to Italy on your cycling adventure, be sure to rely on our list of Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip, and use our interactive checklist to ensure you don't forget anything.
This is one of the greatest climbs in the world - an unparalleled jewel. No more than has been written about it can be said - adjectives do not do justice to this extraordinary climb - it is truly in a class by itself.
The ride up Passo dello Stelvio from Prato.
#10 Climb in Italy and a World Top 100.
STELVIO IS ONE OF WORLD’S FOUR MOST FAMOUS BIKE CLIMBS
The world’s four most famous bike climbs (in our opinion) are:
Passo dello Stelvio is in the Ortler Alps of Europe’s Alps Mountain Range. The Ortler Alps were the scene of fierce battles during World War I as forces from both sides were dug into these mountains for much of the war.
THE MOST FAMOUS HAIRPINS IN THE WORLD
The last 24 tornanti (Italian for “bends”) - turn 24 at bottom, turn 1 top left center.
Berghotel Franzenshöhe is bottom center of photo.
This magnificent roadway consists of a series of numbered switchbacks (“Tornante” as they are referred to in Italy), 48 in all (see Tornante slideshow, below), leading us up to the bustling summit.
Upper photo: Looking down the mountain - Hairpins 8 (photo bottom) to 24 (photo top)
Photo bottom left: Hairpins 42-35
Photo bottom right: Hairpins 30-24
Ultimo tornante (last turn).
Photos of the Glorious Hairpins and Some Stelvio Facts
The pass was constructed in 1825 at the direction of Austria’s Franz Joseph I, who wanted a more direct route from Vienna to Milan.
The first eight tornanti (turns 48-41).
The pass is 2758 meters. There are 48 switchbacks coming from Prato (from the northeast) and 38 coming from Bormio (from the southwest).
The pass was first included in the Giro d’Italia in 1953 and fittingly the great Fausto Coppi won the stage.
As of 2022 the Giro d’Italia had featured Passo Stelvio in 13 races since its first appearance in 1953. The pass has been a stage finish four times in the Giro.
Four times the Giro’s passage of Stelvio has been cancelled due to snow.
Each year on the last Saturday of August, approximately 12,000 cyclists participate in Stelvio Bike Day. On this day, all roads to the pass (from Bormio, Prato, and Santa Maria Val Mustair [Switzerland approach] are closed to motor vehicles). Most of the cyclists ride from Prato which is considered the classic approach to the pass.
There was no sign for turn 9 in July 2017.
The pass is closed during the winter.
AT THE TOP
Passo Dello Stelvio - 2760 meters. The highest pass of any Grand Tour.
Three times we have climbed Passo Stelvio and three times we have had Ricardo’s awesome bratwurst and sauerkraut sandwiches - we highly recommend them.
BIKE DAY
"It is the highest finish of any Grand Tour. The Giro d'Italia often crosses the Stelvio Pass (it was crossed by the Giro for the first time in 1953, when Coppi beat Koblet). The last winner on the pass was Dario Cataldo in 2014. Every year, the pass is closed to motor vehicles on one day in late August when about 8,000 cyclists ride on the Stelvio" (Stelvio Pass, Wikipedia).
The pass on Bike Day 2019.
Stelvio Bike Day - contribution from Benjamin Wohlwend:
Perhaps the best way to experience the Stelvio is on Bike Day, an annual event on a Saturday at the end of August or the beginning of September. On this day, both the Stelvio and the Umbrail are closed to motorized traffic, giving you a chance to climb this icon without having to contest with motorcycles and sports cars. You won't have the road to yourself though as 10,000 or more cyclists will help you share this extraordinary cycling experience giving this event a distinct "Gran Fondo" feeling. Adding to this is a number of amenities that can't be expected on any given day: additional water fountains along the climb, professional photographers, and even the occasional bike service tent.
Bike Day 2019.
A pro tip for quick descenders to Prad: avoid the crowded Stelvio. Instead, continue on to the Umbrail Pass and into Switzerland, and complete the loop via Müstair, Taufers and Glurns.
BEST VIEWS
FROM RIFUGIO TIBET
Video by Ard Oostra from Rifugio Tibet.
TRAFFIC AND THE ROADWAY
Summer flowers
Berghotel Franzenshöhe at lower portion of photo - at hairpin 22 and km 19.2
Passo dello Stelvio is in the Ortler Alps of Europe’s Alps Mountain Range. The Ortler Alps were the scene of fierce battles during World War I as forces from both sides were dug into these mountains for much of the war.
This is a very busy road.
Ride early morning and on weekdays for less traffic.
GIRO HISTORY
Year | Stage | Category | Start | Finish | Leader at the summit | Winner of the stage |
20 | - | Fausto Coppi (ITA) | Fausto Coppi (ITA) | |||
20 | - | Aurelio Del Rio (ITA) | Charly Gaul (LUX) | |||
20 | - | Charly Gaul (LUX) | Charly Gaul (LUX) | |||
20 | Passo dello Stelvio | Graziano Battistini (ITA) | Graziano Battistini (ITA) | |||
17 | Passo dello Stelvio | José Manuel Fuente (ESP) | José Manuel Fuente (ESP) | |||
21 | Passo dello Stelvio | Francisco Galdós (ESP) | Francisco Galdós (ESP) | |||
20 | Jean-René Bernaudeau (FRA) | Jean-René Bernaudeau (FRA) | ||||
15 | Franco Vona (ITA) | Marco Pantani (ITA) | ||||
14 | José Rujano (VEN)[13] | Iván Parra (COL) | ||||
20 | Passo dello Stelvio | Thomas de Gendt (BEL) | Thomas de Gendt (BEL) | |||
16 | Val Martello (Martelltal) | Dario Cataldo (ITA) | Nairo Quintana (COL) | |||
16 | Mikel Landa Meana (ESP) | Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) | ||||
18 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | Jai Hindley (AUS) |
Note: Pass was cancelled due to snow in 1967, 1984, 1988 & 2013.
Stelvio is the highest pass available to the Giro. Thus, if Stelvio is included in the Giro it will necessarily be the Cima Coppi, which it has been on nine occasions since that designation was first established in honor of arguably the tours greatest participant of all time:
“The Cima Coppi is the title given to the highest peak in the yearly running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tour races. The mountain that is given this title each year awards more mountains classification points to the first rider than any of the other categorized mountains in the race.
The categorization was first introduced for the 1965 Giro d'Italia in honor of the late Fausto Coppi who won five editions of the Giro d'Italia and three mountain classification titles during his career. It was first announced on 22 April 1965 by then race director Vicenzo Torriani that the highest peak would award two times as many mountains classification points. Torriani thought of possibly awarding time bonuses to the first to summit the mountain; however, after many dissenting opinions, he opted to go award more mountains classification points.
The Cima Coppi changes from year to year, depending on the altitude profile of the Giro d'Italia, but the Cima Coppi par excellence is the Stelvio Pass, which at 2758 m is the highest point ever reached by the Giro. The Stelvio has been used in the 1972, 1975, 1980, 1994, 2005, 2012, 2014 and 2017 editions. It was also scheduled in 1965, 1988, and 2013, but in each case the course was modified due to weather conditions, with various effects on the Cima Coppi designation.” Wikipedia - Cima Coppi
Haute Route writes:
The Stelvio is probably the most photographed and the most instantly recognisable climb in the world. The second highest paved pass in Europe, at 2,758m it is just 12m lower than the col de l’Iseran, in France. Even if you start from the easiest side you will have to climb almost 1,600m in 22 km, at an average gradient of 7.4%. What’s more, there is a ski station on the summit and it often snows, even in mid-summer!
That the Stelvio has become iconic with just 12 appearances in the Giro testifies to the legendary nature of the events that have taken place on its slopes. The Stelvio began creating legends from its very first appearance, in 1953. The great Hugo Koblet was in the leader’s jersey for 12 stages in a row, from Stage 8 until Stage 20. From Bolzano to Bormio, crossing the Passo dello Stelvio, this was the first time the Giro had ever been so high. Koblet was an excellent climber and everyone expected him to keep his lead. This was to reckon without the Campionissimo, or Champion of Champions. Coppi attacked Koblet 11km from the summit on the then unmade road and rode into history by winning the Giro for the fifth time. Coppi’s comment on reaching the summit was: “in the last few bends, I thought I was going to die”.