17.2
PDI
6.1 mi
DISTANCE
2,536 ft
GAINED
7.9 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Giacomo Rizzo, Madrid, Spain
INTRO
Alfredo Binda was born at the bottom of this road and trained on it, and the climb from Cittiglio to the Passo del Cuvignone is still the one local riders measure themselves on. Binda won the Giro d'Italia five times and the world championship three times; since 2022 the road has carried permanent kilometer signs, the Dinamo Cuvi Climb, starting from his birthplace. Our route climbs 9.8 km (6.1 mi) from Cittiglio, gaining 773 m (2536 ft) at 7.9%.
There's no easing into it. The road leaves Cittiglio at 8% and stays between 7 and 9.5% through the woods for 6 km to Vararo, a hamlet of stone houses at about 750 m. Vararo gives you the only real break - a near-flat kilometer through the village - and then the final 3 km are the hardest of the climb, averaging about 10% with the last kilometer at 10.8%. Ivan Basso, who trained here, advises riding the lower half with restraint and saving your effort for above Vararo. The Giro d'Italia crossed the Cuvignone twice in a 1995 stage to Luino won by Evgeni Berzin.
In 2026 that top section has been the problem. A heavy wet snowfall on 15 March 2026 brought down trees and rock above Vararo, and the SP8 has been closed from there to the pass ever since - details in Roadway & Parking. Until it reopens, the lower 6 km to Vararo are still a good climb in their own right, and the pass is reachable on the roads from Castelveccana and Arcumeggia.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The full climb is 9.8 km (6.1 mi) from 253 m (831 ft) in Cittiglio to 1025 m (3363 ft) at the pass, with 773 m (2536 ft) of gain at an average of 7.9%. The steepest kilometer averages 11.0%, the steepest 2 km 10.0% and the steepest 5 km 8.1%. Short ramps reach about 14%.
Km 0-6: Cittiglio to Vararo: 7.9%, 8.4%, 9.5%, 7.2%, 7.5% and 7.3%, almost all of it under trees.
Km 6-7: Through Vararo at 2.3%.
Km 7-9.8: The hardest part: 9.5%, 9.1% and 10.8% to the pass.
Roadway: The SP8 is a narrow, winding, fully paved mountain road almost entirely in the woods, with sound asphalt on September and October 2025 Street View imagery. Fallen leaves make it slippery in autumn and the shade hides loose stones, so take the descent carefully. After the heavy snowfall of 15 March 2026, the Provincia di Varese closed the SP8 from km 7, just past the last house in Vararo, to the pass, to all traffic including bikes and pedestrians; the ordinance was extended to at least 1 September 2026 and could be extended again. The mayor of Cittiglio has warned that moving the barriers can lead to charges, so check the Province's road notices before you ride the top section. Separately, a landslide below Vararo briefly blocked the SP8 on 2 June 2026 and was cleared the same day.
Traffic: Very light. Beyond Cittiglio the road serves Vararo and the pass, and while the top is shut Vararo is effectively a dead end. When it's open you'll share it with a few cars heading for the pass and hikers going up Monte Nudo.
Parking: Park in Cittiglio where signs allow; the Alfredo Binda monument in town, where the 2022 Dinamo Cuvi Climb group ride set off, makes a good meeting point. Vararo has very little space, so don't plan to drive up and start from there.
Gear: Nearly 10 km at close to 8%, with ramps near 14%, is a lot more pleasant with a 34-32 or 34-34 bottom gear. The road is shaded and damp much of the year, and the pass is cool even when the lake is warm, so bring a layer for the way down.
Provisions: Get everything in Cittiglio. Vararo is a hamlet of around 40 residents and there's nothing to count on above the valley, so leave town with full bottles.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Cittiglio is a cycling town. The Museo Binda tells the story of its most famous son, and the town hosts the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, one of the classics of women's racing. Laveno and the Lake Maggiore shore are a few kilometers away if you'd rather base yourself by the water.
The Cuvignone has three paved sides: this one, Passo Cuvignone North from Castelveccana on the lake, and Passo Cuvignone East from the Valcuvia through Arcumeggia, a village known for the frescoes painted on its houses. With this side closed above Vararo, the North and East sides are the way to reach the pass - and the closure makes the road up to Vararo even quieter than usual.
If you have a spare morning, the trails from Vararo climb Monte Nudo, the high point above the pass, with views over the lake.
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GiacomoRz
One of the northern Italy iconic climbs, used to be the training ground for Alfredo Binda and (more recently) Ivan Basso. This climb is not super-steep or super-long, but with ramps of up to 14% here and there, it's not going to be easy easier. Almost entirely in the woods, at certain times of the year it's going to be cold and treacherous due to the leaves fallen on the ground.
