Racing

Sixteen of the toughest climbs in professional cycling

Ascents which strike fear into the even most seasoned pros

Monte Zoncolan (Giro d’Italia)

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

Monte Zoncolan (Giro d’Italia)

A modern addition to the Giro d’Italia, the Monte Zoncolan has it all – from narrow roads to tunnels to daunting switchbacks – and has featured on the Corsa Rosa route five times.

Last year saw Michael Rogers (Tinkoff-Saxo) fight the brutal gradient – and through the throngs of people lining the roadside – to climb to stage victory.

Though offering a relatively gentle opening, the climb kicks up after a false flat shortly after the two-kilometre mark and rising sharply from there.

Zig-zagging up the mountain-side, at its steepest the climb rises up to 22 per cent and with the finale being exposed to the elements, there is little cover once you get out of the forest.

Ivan Basso is a former winner on the climb, while Marco Pantani ignited the ascent on its debut in 2003 before falling to fifth behind Gilberto Simoni, who repeated his triumph four years later.