36.6
PDI
7.6 mi
DISTANCE
4,207 ft
GAINED
10.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ties Arts, Bussum, Netherlands
INTRO
Passo Mortirolo (also called Passo di Foppa) is a 1,852-meter pass in the Italian Alps connecting the province of Sondrio with the province of Brescia. This route climbs its Sondrio side from the small village of Tovo di Sant'Agata - 7.6 miles and 4,207 feet of gain at a brutal 10.5% average grade.
Of the four routes up Mortirolo, Tovo is one of the toughest - only the classic Mazzo di Valtellina approach rates harder. It's also the least scenic: for most of the climb, thick forest closes in on both sides and blocks any view beyond the road immediately ahead, which only sharpens the sense that the grade never lets up. Near the top, the pavement narrows into a band of concrete through a small cluster of mountain huts, pitching to around 23% - steep enough that many riders end up putting a foot down.
The Tovo side entered Giro d'Italia lore later than Mortirolo's famous Mazzo approach (used in 11 of the pass's 13 Giro appearances, including Marco Pantani's legendary 1994 ride) - it made its first Giro appearance in 2012, when Oliver Zaugg led over the top, and returned in 2022 on the stage into Aprica won by Jan Hirt. See our Routes in the Area tool for the other approaches to this same summit.
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. This is one of the steepest sustained climbs in the Alps. The average grade over the full 7.6 miles is 10.5%, with the steepest continuous mile averaging 14.0% and the steepest quarter-mile spiking to 18.2%. Even the steepest 5-mile stretch holds an 11.2% average - there's essentially no flat or downhill section to recover on. The final ramps, on the narrow concrete section near the summit, are commonly cited at around 23%.
Roadway: Narrow, one-lane paved road for virtually the entire climb, running through thick forest that blocks nearly every view except the pavement directly ahead. Surface quality is generally good tarmac, but the final stretch near the summit switches to a narrow band of concrete through a small cluster of mountain huts, with pitches around 23% - steep enough that many riders have to dismount and push. No closures specific to this road were found as of mid-2026, but Alpine roads in this region do see periodic landslide-related closures, so it's worth a quick check before you go, especially outside peak summer season.
Traffic: Very light. This is the quietest and least-visited of the four approaches to Passo Mortirolo - many cyclists report finishing the whole climb without seeing a single car.
Parking: No dedicated cycling parking; riders typically start from the streets of Tovo di Sant'Agata near the T-intersection of the unnamed climb road and Via Milano, at the southeastern edge of the village.
Bring a compact gearing setup - a 30-tooth or larger low gear is strongly recommended given the sustained double-digit grades and the 23% pitches near the top. Because the road is forest-shaded and narrow, a bike light isn't a bad idea even in daylight. There are no shops, water fountains, or services along the climb itself, so fuel up in Tovo di Sant'Agata or nearby Tirano before you start.
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.
Tirano, a few miles down in the valley, is the nearest town with a full range of hotels and restaurants and a train station - it's also the southern terminus of the scenic Bernina Express railway. Tovo di Sant'Agata itself is small, so stock up on food and water before heading up; there's nothing along the climb itself once you leave town.
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grock333
For the first 3.5 miles of this climb its best to take it as easy as you can. Its the steepest part and unrelenting. You can do this whole climb with an average of 200 watts and enjoy it The top half has some good areas to get food and drink down without rolling backwards! It's a must do and the hardest route up the Mortirolo.
