28.1
PDI
4.5 mi
DISTANCE
2,858 ft
GAINED
12.2 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
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. Monte Lussari climbs 7.2 km (4.5 mi) at a 12.2% average grade, gaining 871 m (2,858 ft) from 877 m (2,877 ft) up to 1,749 m (5,735 ft). The grade turns brutal almost immediately and stays that way: the steepest kilometer averages 17.1%, the steepest 500 m 17.4%, and the climb is still averaging 15.8% through the first 2 km and 14.7% through 5 km before easing off in the final stretch to the sanctuary.
Roadway: The road is paved (concrete for much of its length) from Valbruna to the sanctuary, though several rider reports mention loose and sharp stones in places even on the paved surface, so watch your line. It only opened to cyclists in summer 2023, and access is uphill-only - descending by bike is prohibited on any part of the road; the Lussari cable car is the only way back down to Camporosso. The road is open only during the cable car's operating season and daily hours (roughly late May to late September for 2026, with uphill cycling permitted from about 9am to 3pm) - check current dates and times before you go, since riding it outside that window isn't an option.
Traffic: Vehicle traffic is minimal - this functions as a dedicated cyclist and shuttle corridor rather than a through road. The real challenge is the gradient itself, not cars.
Parking: Park in Valbruna near the base of the climb; the hamlet has ordinary roadside parking rather than a dedicated cyclist lot.
Provisions: Valbruna has a few small shops and cafes for a coffee or to fill bottles before you start; there's little else until the sanctuary at the top, which has a bar/restaurant serving pilgrims and cyclists alike.
Gear: Gear low - a compact chainring and a wide-range cassette are close to mandatory given the sustained mid-teens gradient. Since you'll take the cable car back down rather than descend, you won't need much beyond what gets you up; pack a layer for the often-breezy ride down in the gondola.
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.
The Santuario del Monte Lussari at the summit is worth lingering at - it's a genuine pilgrimage church dating to the 14th century, known as the "church of the three peoples" for the Italian, Slovenian, and German-speaking pilgrims who have climbed to it for centuries, long before there was a road.
Valbruna and nearby Tarvisio sit right at the meeting point of Italy, Austria, and Slovenia, so it's an easy base for combining this climb with riding across two or three countries in a single day. See our Routes in the Area tool for other climbs nearby if you're building out a longer trip through the Val Canale.
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