Sixteen of the hardest climbs in professional cycling

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Sixteen of the toughest climbs in professional cycling

Ascents which strike fear into the even most seasoned pros

Passo Gavia (Giro d'Italia)

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Passo Gavia (Giro d'Italia)

Another Giro d’Italia climb to have been hit by snow over the last two years, the Passo Gavia is one of the ten highest paved roads in the Alps. Racing up it in May often makes it a battle against the elements.

Like many Alpine beasts, the climb gets steeper as the altitude rises, with a gentle opening making way for hairpins and a final ten kilometres which ramp the gradient up to its eight per cent average.

At its steepest, the climb touches 16 per cent but it is the distance and the brutal cold which has made it a climb to be feared in recent Giro d’Italia history.

Andrew Hampsten set up his 1988 victory after a snow-battered epic on the Gavia, while last year’s climb was one of three major ascents – the Stelvio and Val Martello followed – on a day which saw Nairo Quintana move into an overall lead that he then never surrendered.

Key facts

Length: 17.3km
Average gradient: 7.9%
Maximum gradient: 16%

Topics:

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