Passo dello Stelvio, ITA

48 hairpins, 2,757 metres at the top, Italy’s highest paved alpine pass. The Stelvio isn’t a climb. It’s a life’s work on a road bike.

The Route

Three approaches, three completely different experiences. From Prad am Stilfserjoch (South Tyrol) it’s 24.3 km with 1,808 metres of elevation gain. 7.4% average, 12% maximum. The famous 48 hairpins begin after the first flat kilometres through the forest. From kilometre 8, things get real: the switchbacks stack on top of each other, visible from bottom to top. You can see exactly where you need to go. That can motivate you. Or break you.

From Bormio (Lombardy) it’s 21.5 km with 1,533 metres of climbing. Steeper, more direct, fewer hairpins, but a relentless gradient. The last 5 kilometres average over 10%. This is the side you know from the Giro.

The third approach via the Umbrail Pass (Switzerland) is the longest and quietest. 34 km, but more consistent. Little traffic, spectacular solitude.

History and Cycling

The Stelvio has been a fixture of the Giro d’Italia since 1953. The most legendary stage: 2012, when Thomas De Gendt rode over the pass alone through snow and fog. Or 2014, when Nairo Quintana shattered the field in rain and 4°C.

Coppi rode here, Merckx rode here, Pantani rode here. The summit with the Tibetan flag and the café is one of the most iconic spots in cycling.

Tips for Cyclists

The pass road is open from June to October, depending on snow conditions. July and August are packed: motorbikes, camper vans, tour buses. Best time to ride: mid-June (right after opening, snow still lining the road) or September.

Start from Prad, 7 AM. The south side gets early sun and the tarmac is good. It’s cold at the top: rarely above 10°C even in summer. Arm warmers and a wind vest are non-negotiable. For the descent to Bormio, bring a proper jacket.

The Stelvio was my very first mountain pass in 2018, and I genuinely wasn’t sure I’d make it to the top. I did. It was fantastic, even if it wasn’t my most moving ride to date.