Gavia, Mortirolo, and Tonale Passes by bike: ride the great classics
What does it mean to climb the Mortirolo Pass by bike? The Gavia Pass, or the Tonale Pass? It means conquering the great climbs that made the Giro d’Italia legendary. The Pontedilegno‑Tonale bike area has long been the stage for unforgettable feats by the greatest champions of international cycling: Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Marco Pantani, Miguel Indurain, Ivan Basso and Gilberto Simoni to today’s golden names. These are demanding climbs, immersed in spectacular mountain landscapes, capable of testing even the most trained cyclists. A true must for every road rider.
The emotional roads of cycling
Where cycling legends were made: Ponte di Legno and the Tonale Pass
Daring descents and steep climbs: the roads of the Pontedilegno‑Tonale bike area seem made for road‑cycling enthusiasts. Routes for every taste and every level, with views over some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe. Here are the most famous ones.
The Gavia from Ponte di Legno: the legendary ascent
The Gavia entered the Giro d’Italia almost by chance in 1960: during an aerial reconnaissance, the race director Vincenzo Torriani spotted the climb and decided to include it in the route. The most famous stage remains that of 5 June 1988, when snow and ice put the riders to the test: some had to be assisted for early signs of frostbite, and many reached the finish well beyond the time limit.
The climb to the Gavia begins north of Ponte di Legno, at the bridge over the Frigidolfo stream. The first kilometres are gentle, then, once you reach Sant’Apollonia, the tougher sections begin, with gradients reaching 14%. The road rises in hairpins, offering views over Upper Val Camonica and the Adamello glaciers. After the forested stretch, the landscape opens onto the Valle delle Messi, the Monticelli Group, and Mount Pietra Rossa. It then passes through a tunnel of about 400 metres long, lit only on one side: carrying a light is recommended. The climb continues beyond 2,200 metres, where altitude and gradients make the effort even more intense. After the final switchbacks, overlooking Lago Nero, the gradient eases until reaching the 2,652‑metre summit of the Gavia Pass.
Mortirolo by bike: the queen of climbs
Included in the Giro d’Italia in 1990, the climb soon became the stage for one of the most iconic feats in Italian cycling. In 1994, during this brutally hard stage, a young twenty‑four‑year‑old began to leave everyone behind, hairpin after hairpin, eventually crossing the finish line with a lead of 2 minutes and 52 seconds over the second‑placed rider. The cyclist behind that exploit was then almost unknown: Marco Pantani. In 2006, along the toughest stretch of the climb, a monument was inaugurated in his honour.
The climb to the Mortirolo Pass by bike starts from the fork for Monno, along the SS42 Tonale and Mendola road. After crossing the village, the route continues through wide meadows and gentle stretches until the Palù stream, where the toughest part begins. The road rises through conifer forests, with a succession of hairpins and increasingly demanding gradients. About 2 km from the pass, after a short flat section, the final stretch begins: a series of tight switchbacks with a maximum gradient of 16.9%. After passing the junction of the three roads coming from Monno, Trivigno, and Mazzo di Valtellina, you reach the Mortirolo Pass at 1,852 metres a.s.l.
The Tonale Pass by bike: the Val di Sole ascent
The Tonale Pass was tackled for the first time in the Giro d’Italia in 1933, during the Bolzano–Milan stage, and today it is listed among the ‘Great Climbs in Trentino’. In 1939, the Tonale Pass proved decisive for the Giro d’Italia. Gino Bartali, considered the favourite, faced the stage amid snow and fog: first a puncture, then a crash compromised his race and the Giro, handing victory to Valetti. Bartali had even phoned ahead to ask about the weather conditions at the Pass, but he still could not avoid the accident.
The climb begins on the SS42, at the fork for Pejo in the village of Fucine di Ossana. After the first two steady kilometres, the gradient increases at the entrance to Vermiglio, marking the start of the toughest section. Once past the village of Fraviano, the valley narrows and the road continues through the forest. After about 9 km you reach Fort Strino, a First World War landmark. The climb continues with a more demanding one‑kilometre stretch, where the gradient reaches 9.9%, before easing over the final 2 km, with a slope just above 3%. As you ascend, views open onto the Presanella Glacier, all the way to the summit of the Pass, where the Military Memorial stands.
Passo Tonale in bici dalla Valle Camonica
The Tonale Pass from Val Camonica was included in the Giro d’Italia in 1981. In 1984, the Tonale Pass was added to the route after heavy snowfall made the Stelvio impassable. The race was therefore diverted through the Tonale and Palade Passes before descending towards Merano. The change sparked some controversy, with some claiming that the new route had been chosen to favour Francesco Moser.
The climb begins on the SS42, at the fork for the centre of Ponte di Legno, with a gentle gradient up to the first hairpin in Val Sozzine. From here, the road continues with an average gradient of 6%, with views of the Castellaccio Mountain Range and overlooking Ponte di Legno from above. The ascent remains steady up to the village of Tonalina, where the view opens onto the Pisgana Valley. A few tougher kilometres follow, with gradients reaching up to 12%, before a gentler stretch through alpine pastures. After the final hairpin, near the Chiesetta dei Frati, the last kilometres become more linear. The Tonale Pass comes into sight, and you finally reach the Military Memorial.
Mortirolo by bike: take on the champions!
The Mortirolo is one of the toughest climbs in the Giro d’Italia, and one of the few timed ascents in the race. Over the various editions, champions have set increasingly faster record times: now you too can measure yourself against the top riders and, why not… try to beat them!
