24.4
PDI
6.6 mi
DISTANCE
3,194 ft
GAINED
9.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Cornedo climbs 10.7 km (6.6 mi) out of Cardano, a hamlet of the South Tyrolean municipality of Cornedo all'Isarco (Karneid) just east of Bolzano, gaining 974 m (3,194 ft) at a steep 9.1% average grade. The road leaves the Isarco Valley floor at around 290 m (950 ft) and climbs onto the sunny, terraced plateau above, passing directly below Cornedo Castle - a 13th-century fortress perched on a rocky outcrop with sweeping views back down over Bolzano and its vineyards.
This is a sustained, unrelenting effort rather than a climb with easy sections to recover on - our data has the steepest sustained kilometer at over 11% and the steepest 100 yards above 12.5%, on a road that rarely flattens out. It's one of several roads climbing out of the Isarco Valley onto the same high plateau, an area known locally for its vineyards, orchards, and - unusually - as South Tyrol's "First European Star Village," home to the Max Valier astronomical observatory near San Valentino in Campo.
The road is paved and used by local residents year-round, so it stays open outside of snow events, but expect real winter conditions in the colder months given the altitude gain.
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. From Cardano, Cornedo climbs 10.7 km (6.6 mi) at an average grade of 9.1%, gaining 974 m (3,194 ft).
There's little relief anywhere on this one - the steepest sustained kilometer averages 11.1%, and the steepest 100-yard stretch tops 12.5%, on top of an already-demanding overall average. Riders should expect a consistent, grinding effort from the valley floor in Cardano to the plateau above, with no significant flat sections to recover on.
Roadway: The road is paved the entire way and well maintained, as it's a year-round local access route for the villages on the plateau above Cardano, not a seasonal tourist road.
Traffic: Traffic is light. This is a local road serving Cornedo village and the smaller hamlets above it, not the main SS241 that carries the heavier Val d'Ega gorge traffic toward Passo Costalunga - expect mostly local cars and the occasional delivery vehicle.
Parking: Riders typically start from Cardano, which has roadside parking near the village center and is served by an urban bus line from Bolzano, making it an easy, low-key place to begin.
Bring an easy gear - a compact crankset with a wide low cog is genuinely useful here, since the grade rarely relents and there's no flat stretch to shift into a harder gear and recover. The road is paved throughout, so standard road tires are fine.
Cardano has basic services at the base, but there's little to nothing once you're on the climb itself, so carry what water you need for a hard 45-minute to hour-long effort.
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.
Cornedo Castle (Schloss Karneid), the 13th-century fortress visible from the road partway up the climb, has been open to the public since 2006 and is worth a stop if you have time - it's one of the better-preserved medieval castles in the Bolzano area, with views back down over the Isarco Valley.
The plateau above Cardano is also home to South Tyrol's "First European Star Village" designation, anchored by the Max Valier Observatory near San Valentino in Campo - a genuine astronomical research and public observatory at 1,350 m, with guided evening viewings in summer. It's an unusual add-on for a cycling trip if you're staying in the area a few days. Cardano itself, just a few minutes from Bolzano, makes an easy, low-key base for exploring the wider Val d'Ega and Dolomites region.
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