17.6
PDI
8.6 mi
DISTANCE
2,919 ft
GAINED
6.4 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Passo Brocon from Canal San Bovo climbs 13.8 km (8.6 mi) from the floor of the Vanoi valley at 731 m (2399 ft) to the pass at 1619 m (5313 ft), gaining 890 m (2919 ft) at a 6.4% average. The pass links the Vanoi, a quiet side valley of Primiero, with the Tesino plateau to the south. This northern side was the first of two ascents of the Brocon on stage 17 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, and Georg Steinhauser crested it first on his way to a solo stage win at the top. It currently ranks #1279 in the world on our list.
This is a climb of rhythm rather than shocks. After a stiff first kilometer, the SP79 works its way up through Ronco - a village made up of colmèi, small clusters of a few houses spread across the hillside - in a long ladder of hairpins at a steady 6-8%, with views back across the valley toward Canal San Bovo. Around km 9.5 (mi 5.9) the houses run out and the road continues through forest toward the Lagorai range, easing briefly before a final push to the pass.
The Vanoi side has been substantially rebuilt in places since the 2018 Vaia storm damaged it and closed it for a long stretch; a 2023 project above Ronco added a new retaining wall, widened the road to 5.5 m (18 ft) and laid fresh asphalt. At the top, the Albergo Passo Brocon has served travelers since 1967 and reopened under new owners in December 2025.
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. Passo Brocon from Canal San Bovo is 13.8 km (8.6 mi) long and climbs 890 m (2919 ft) from 731 m (2399 ft) to 1619 m (5313 ft), an average of 6.4%, with essentially no descending.
The first kilometer is one of the steeper ones at 7.5%, and then a gentler 4.0% kilometer lets you settle in. From km 2 to km 10 (mi 1.2-6.2) the gradient stays between 5.9% and 7.9% almost without a break, and this is where the hardest sections sit: the steepest 500 m averages 9.2%, the steepest kilometer 8.5% and the steepest mile (1.6 km) 8.0%.
Kilometer 11 eases to 4.8%, a welcome breather in the forest, before the last 3 km (1.9 mi) rise at 5.6-7.2% to the pass. The steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) average 7.7% and the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) 7.4%, while short pitches touch 13.4% over 100 yards.
Roadway: Paved the whole way on the SP79 del Brocon, a mountain road that climbs through Ronco in a long series of hairpins. The Vanoi side was badly damaged by the 2018 Vaia storm, and the section above Ronco was rebuilt in 2023 with a new retaining wall, a wider 5.5 m (18 ft) carriageway, new guardrail and new asphalt. In April 2025 a dry-stone retaining wall gave way at km 17.2 of the SP79 and the Provincia di Trento put alternating one-way traffic in place while repairs were assessed, so check the Province's press office notices before you go. Expect snow and ice near the pass in winter.
Traffic: Light most of the time. The Vanoi is one of the quieter valleys in Trentino, and the SP79 mainly carries residents of Ronco's hamlets and visitors heading up to the pass.
Parking: Canal San Bovo is a small valley village and the start at Ronco Fosse is just a roadside spot on the SP79 with no dedicated lot, so it's easiest to park in the village and ride the short distance to the bottom of the climb. At the top, the Albergo Passo Brocon is the natural meeting point for a support car - leave its spaces free for hotel and restaurant guests.
Provisions: Stock up in Canal San Bovo before you start - Ronco's hamlets are residential and there's nowhere to buy food on the way up. At the top, the Albergo Passo Brocon has a bar and a 60-seat restaurant; it changed hands in late 2025, so check opening days if you're riding outside the main summer and winter seasons.
Gear: You finish almost 900 m (2950 ft) above the valley, and the descent back to Canal San Bovo is long and partly shaded by forest, so bring a windproof layer even on a warm day. A compact crankset with a 30- or 32-tooth cog suits the steady 7-8% middle section.
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.
Canal San Bovo is the main village of the Vanoi, a green side valley of Primiero that sees far fewer visitors than nearby San Martino di Castrozza. The Ecomuseo del Vanoi isn't a single building but a set of themed sites spread through the valley - water, wood, stone, the sacred and the First World War among them - and Caoria, further up the valley, has a small Great War museum. Ronco, which this climb passes through, has a themed walking route that links its colmèi along old mule tracks.
For a rest-day outing, a paved road climbs from Canal San Bovo to Lago di Calaita, one of Trentino's prettiest lakes and the start of a long trek to San Martino di Castrozza beneath the Pale di San Martino. Look out for two Primiero specialties at the valley's malghe: Botiro di Primiero, a mountain butter once prized by the Republic of Venice, and Tosèla, a fresh local table cheese.
The pass sits at 1619 m (5313 ft) on the edge of the Lagorai, and conditions up there can be very different from the valley - check current conditions before you go with our Weather tool.
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