Passo di Giau, ITA

The Giau is the Dolomites pass that makes all others look ordinary. Not because it’s the hardest. But because in the final kilometres, a panorama opens up that you won’t forget. Civetta, Marmolada, Pelmo, all at once.

The route

From Pocol above Cortina d’Ampezzo it’s 10.7 km with 780 metres of elevation. 7.3% average, maximum 14%. The north side starts gently: the first 3 kilometres through conifer forest at 5-6%. Time to warm up.

From kilometre 4 the gradient increases. 8-9%, occasionally 10%. The switchbacks tighten, the forest thins out. At kilometre 7 comes the tree line. From here you ride across open alpine meadows with direct views of the Dolomite peaks. The last 2 kilometres have the steepest ramps: up to 14%, short but fierce. In between, passages at 6-7% to recover.

At the summit (2,236 m): a small rifugio, cows on the meadow, and silence. The descent to Selva di Cadore on the south side is steep, technical and beautiful. 9.9 km with gradients up to 16%.

History and cycling

The Giau has been a regular feature in the Giro d’Italia since the 1990s. No single legendary moment dominates its history, but the pass is feared because it often comes late in brutal Dolomites stages. After Fedaia, Pordoi or Falzarego, adding the Giau on top breaks legs.

The Maratona dles Dolomites, one of the world’s largest cycling marathons, crosses the Giau every year. 9,000 participants, places allocated by lottery. Those who ride it know why this pass is on the list.

Tips for cyclists

Best time: June to September. In June there may still be snow at the edges, but the road is clear. The north side from Pocol has little traffic. Start in Cortina, 5 minutes of climbing to Pocol, then the real ascent begins.

Water in Cortina before the start. Coffee and cake at the rifugio on top. Compact chainset recommended, the 14% ramps at the end come after 8 km of effort. The descent to Selva di Cadore has blind corners and steep sections. Stay alert.