Racing

Sixteen of the toughest climbs in professional cycling

Ascents which strike fear into the even most seasoned pros

Muro di Sormano (Giro di Lombardia)

The Angliru is widely touted as the toughest climb in pro cycling - but what else made our list? (pic: Sirotti)
The peloton tackles the Wall of Sormano (pic: Sirotti)
Colombians, Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran do battle on the Zoncolan pic: ©Sirotti
Christopher Horner rides alone after dropping Vuelta a Espana GC rival Vincenzo Nibali on the Angliru (pic: Sirotti)
Peter Cossins' looks at 'cycling's greatest climb' in Alpe d'Huez (pic: Media-24)
Froome rounds the final corner of the Mont Ventoux on his way to his 2013 stage win (pic: Sirotti)
The iconic Passo dello Stelvio is likely to feature on the 'must ride' list of any cyclist. pic: ©Media24
The Koppenberg is known to have forced many a cyclist to get off and push (pic: Sirotti)
Alejandro Valverde celebrates his La Fleche Wallonne triumph atop the Mur de Huy in 2015 (pic: Sirotti)
The snow-laden slopes of the Gavia featured at the Giro last year (pic: Sirotti)
The Passo Giau is set in a landscape that can accurately be described as stunning. pic: ©Sirotti
Joaquim Rodriguez resplendent in the maglia rosa at the 2012 Giro d'Italia, tackles the Mortirolo
The Col du Tourmalet was part of the 2014 Etape du Tour (pic: muneaki / Creative Commons)
Joaquim Rodriguez celebrates his win on the Ancares in 2012 (pic: Sirotti)
Nairo Quintana and Pierre Rolland tackle the Montecampione at last year's Giro d'Italia (pic: Sirotti)
The stunning backdrop masks the fierceness of the climb to the Lakes of Covadonga (pic: Sirotti)
The Hautacam has become a popular modern addition to the Tour de France pic: ©Media24

Muro di Sormano (Giro di Lombardia)

A climb so tough it was removed from the Giro di Lombardia just three years after its 1960 debut, the Sormano is nicknamed ‘The Wall’ for good reason.

Though just 1,700m in length, there is no hiding place with an average gradient of 17 per cent and several pitches ramping up even higher.

At its maximum, the gradient stands at 25 per cent and The Wall was restored to the season’s final Monument, The Race of the Falling Leaves, in 2012 to be tackled before the Madonna del Ghisallo ascent.

Last year’s edition found no place for the climb again, but it made another much-feared return in 2015.