Passo Mortirolo (Giro d'Italia)
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The Angliru is widely touted as the toughest climb in pro cycling - but what else made our list? (pic: Sirotti)
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The peloton tackles the Wall of Sormano (pic: Sirotti)
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Colombians, Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran do battle on the Zoncolan pic: ©Sirotti
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Christopher Horner rides alone after dropping Vuelta a Espana GC rival Vincenzo Nibali on the Angliru (pic: Sirotti)
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Peter Cossins' looks at 'cycling's greatest climb' in Alpe d'Huez (pic: Media-24)
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Froome rounds the final corner of the Mont Ventoux on his way to his 2013 stage win (pic: Sirotti)
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The iconic Passo dello Stelvio is likely to feature on the 'must ride' list of any cyclist. pic: ©Media24
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The Koppenberg is known to have forced many a cyclist to get off and push (pic: Sirotti)
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Alejandro Valverde celebrates his La Fleche Wallonne triumph atop the Mur de Huy in 2015 (pic: Sirotti)
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The snow-laden slopes of the Gavia featured at the Giro last year (pic: Sirotti)
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The Passo Giau is set in a landscape that can accurately be described as stunning. pic: ©Sirotti
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Joaquim Rodriguez resplendent in the maglia rosa at the 2012 Giro d'Italia, tackles the Mortirolo
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The Col du Tourmalet was part of the 2014 Etape du Tour (pic: muneaki / Creative Commons)
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Joaquim Rodriguez celebrates his win on the Ancares in 2012 (pic: Sirotti)
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Nairo Quintana and Pierre Rolland tackle the Montecampione at last year's Giro d'Italia (pic: Sirotti)
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The stunning backdrop masks the fierceness of the climb to the Lakes of Covadonga (pic: Sirotti)
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The Hautacam has become a popular modern addition to the Tour de France pic: ©Media24
Passo Mortirolo (Giro d'Italia)
Making its debut at the Giro d’Italia in 1990, Lance Armstrong called the Passo Mortirolo the hardest he had ever ridden after a training ride in 2004.
And it’s with good reason, too. The ascent comes with an average gradient of 10.5 per cent over the course of its 12.4km length.
The route used on the Mortirolo’s 2012 Giro appearance took a different way to the summit but was equally as brutal – a small descent after 8.5km of climbing leading straight to the steepest pitch of 22 per cent.
Even the pros came to a near standstill on the gruelling ramps to firmly cement the climb’s place in cycling legend, whichever way you tackle it.
Key facts
Length: 12.4km
Average gradient: 10.5%
Maximum gradient: 18%