Iseran

3. Col de l’Iséran, FRA, ↥2050 hm

Highest point at: 2764 m, Distance ascent: 47.4 km, maximum gradient: 10 %, average gradient: 4.3 %

At 2,764 metres, the Col de l’Iseran is the highest paved mountain pass in the Alps. In Savoie it connects the high valleys of the Isère and the Arc as part of the Route des Grandes Alpes. Approach from the north and you have almost 50 kilometres of climbing ahead of you. What counts here…

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Passo Lanciano, Blockhaus, Italy: 1995 m elevation gain, 29.1 km, avg 6.9 %, max 14.5 %, summit 2100 m

4. Passo Lanciano, Blockhaus, ITA, ↥1995 hm

Highest point at: 2100 m, Distance ascent: 29.1 km, maximum gradient: 14.5 %, average gradient: 6.9 %

The Passo Lanciano is only half the truth. Most riders who climb it want to go further: to the Blockhaus, the bare summit ridge of the Majella in the Abruzzo. Together they add up to the biggest elevation gain of any paved road in Italy, and one of the hardest climbs in Europe. Passo Lanciano…

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Col de la Bonette, France: 1911 m elevation gain, 38.6 km, avg 5 %, max 9 %, summit 2802 m

6. Col de la Bonette, FRA, ↥1911 hm

Highest point at: 2802 m, Distance ascent: 38.6 km, maximum gradient: 9 %, average gradient: 5 %

Der Col de la Bonette ist ein 2715 m hoher Gebirgspass in den französischen Seealpen in der Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur nahe der italienischen Grenze. Die Cime de la Bonette (2860 m) und die Cime des Trois Serrières (2753 m) sind die den Pass bildenden Gipfel.

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Stelvio

8. Passo dello Stelvio, ITA, ↥1844 hm

Highest point at: 2758 m, Distance ascent: 24.9 km, maximum gradient: 15 %, average gradient: 7.4 %
Climbed by: Anton

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 24.9 km with 1,844 metres of elevation gain. 7.4% average, 15% maximum. The famous 48…

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Grossglockner

10. Großglockner High Alpine Road, AUT, ↥1753 hm

Highest point at: 2571 m, Distance ascent: 21.5 km, maximum gradient: 12 %, average gradient: 8.2 %
Climbed by: Anton

Austria’s most famous mountain road. 48 kilometres, 36 hairpins, and at the top you stand on the Edelweißspitze at 2,571 metres with a direct view of the Großglockner, the country’s highest peak. No other Alpine pass combines this much infrastructure with this much raw wilderness. The Route The classic road bike ascent starts in Fusch…

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Colle delle Finestre, Italy: 1702 m elevation gain, 18.8 km, avg 9.1 %, max 12 %, summit 2178 m

13. Colle delle Finestre, ITA, ↥1702 hm

Highest point at: 2178 m, Distance ascent: 18.8 km, maximum gradient: 12 %, average gradient: 9.1 %
Climbed by: Anton

At kilometre 12, the tarmac ends. Just like that. Mid-climb, the road turns to gravel. 7 kilometres of sterrato to the summit. This is Colle delle Finestre. The pass that flips the Giro d’Italia upside down every single time. The Route From Susa (Piedmont) it’s 18.5 km with 1,693 metres of elevation gain. The first…

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Passo Manghen, Italy: 1656 m elevation gain, 23.5 km, avg 7 %, max 16 %, summit 2042 m

14. Passo Manghen, ITA, ↥1656 hm

Highest point at: 2042 m, Distance ascent: 23.5 km, maximum gradient: 16 %, average gradient: 7 %
Climbed by: Anton

The Passo Manghen is the climb where Eddy Merckx cracked. 1976, his last Giro. Today, the only drivable crossing between the Valsugana and the Fiemme valley is one of the longest and loneliest HC climbs in Italy. The Passo Manghen at a glance From Borgo Valsugana in the south it is 23.5 kilometres and 1,656…

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Col de la Loze, France: 1653 m elevation gain, 21.6 km, avg 7.7 %, max 17 %, summit 2301 m

15. Col de la Loze, FRA, ↥1653 hm

Highest point at: 2301 m, Distance ascent: 21.6 km, maximum gradient: 17 %, average gradient: 7.7 %
Climbed by: Anton

The Col de la Loze is the youngest myth in cycling. A bike path to 2,301 metres, only paved in 2019, car-free between Méribel and Courchevel, and already the stage for three Tour de France showdowns. Not a historic pass, but a climb built directly for cyclists. With ramps that take even the pros apart.…

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Sustenpass, Switzerland: 1628 m elevation gain, 27.7 km, avg 5.9 %, max 9 %, summit 2224 m

16. Sustenpass, CH, ↥1628 hm

Highest point at: 2224 m, Distance ascent: 27.7 km, maximum gradient: 9 %, average gradient: 5.9 %

The Susten Pass connects the Bernese Oberland with the canton of Uri, from the Hasli valley at Innertkirchen up to the summit tunnel at 2,224 metres and down to Wassen in the Meiental. The road was built between 1938 and 1945 purely as a tourist road, and that is exactly how it rides: even, wide,…

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Mont Ventoux, France: 1599 m elevation gain, 21.2 km, avg 7.5 %, max 14 %, summit 1909 m

17. Mont Ventoux, FRA, ↥1599 hm

Highest point at: 1909 m, Distance ascent: 21.2 km, maximum gradient: 14 %, average gradient: 7.5 %
Climbed by: Anton

Mont Ventoux. The Giant of Provence. 1,909 metres above the lavender fields, the final third completely barren — white limestone, blazing sun, zero shade. Few climbs command this much respect. Three roads lead to the summit. The classic from Bédoin (21.5 km, 7.5% average), the tough one from Malaucène (21.2 km, 7.2%), and the “easy”…

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