The Gotthard Pass, via the old Tremola road from Airolo, offers a unique experience among the great Alpine passes: an entirely cobbled climb, preserved as a Swiss heritage site, winding through 24 hairpins up the mountainside.
A cobbled climb listed as a historic monument
From Airolo, the road climbs 13 km for 936 m of elevation gain, averaging 7.2% on an original cobbled surface preserved since the road was built in the early 20th century. The 24 tight hairpins that make up the climb, clearly visible from higher up, make it one of the most photogenic routes in the Swiss Alps.
Getting the ride right
The cobbled surface calls for a different approach than a standard road: wider tyres run at slightly lower pressure absorb the irregularities better and prevent excessive hand fatigue over the length of the climb. A compact or triple crankset is still recommended for the steepest sections of the hairpins.
When to go
June to September, as the road stays closed by snow the rest of the year at this altitude close to 2,100 m. The modern road tunnel, used by most car traffic, leaves the Tremola largely clear for cyclists even at the height of the season.
Good to know
Airolo, at the Ticino foot of the pass, offers enough accommodation for a stopover, with convenient access to Andermatt on the Uri side for extending a stay to other great climbs of the Gotthard massif.