Passo dello Stelvio is one of the highest paved cycling climbs in Europe.
A regular in the Giro d'Italia, the Stelvio is nearly always a decisive climb. It's altitude, length and gradient is enough to force gaps between professional riders. For cycle tourists it is important to pace yourself and
prepare to be riding for possibly two or more hours in the saddle.
The Prato side is often regarded as the classic side of Stelvio. The iconic hairpin bends seem to snake endlessly down the mountain, and have resulted in the gradient being remarkably consistent.
Stelvio is usually open from mid-May to mid-October.
The hairpin bends of the Prato side are some of the most famous in cycling
Roads & Traffic
The road surface is in good condition throughout.
Both sides of Stelvio have quite a bit of traffic on them
But generally, it isn't too bothersome for riding. The road is fairly wide and easy for cars to pass and most vehicles drive very slowly.
The switchbacks are beautifully engineered
Alternative Routes
Passo dello Stelvio can also be climbed from the south, starting in Bormio.
The climb to Passo dello Stelvio is one of the highlights of our Dolomites & Italian Alps cycling holiday, which
crosses Northern Italy from Zoncolan to Mortirolo.
In the links below you can find out more about this and some of the other tours that we run in high mountains.
Italy
Spain
France