The Passo dello Stelvio isn’t just a mountain pass — it’s the single most reproduced image in Alpine cycling, its 48 numbered hairpins zigzagging up a sheer rock face between Prato allo Stelvio and the summit. The second-highest paved road in the Alps, straddling the border between South Tyrol and Lombardy, it’s featured regularly in the Giro d’Italia since 1953.
A climb that never lets up
From Prato allo Stelvio, the ascent unfolds over 24.3 km and 1,808 m of climbing, averaging 7.4% with barely a breather anywhere along the way. The hairpins, numbered from 48 at the base down to 1 at the summit, give a constant visual reference point — as much a motivator as a way to gauge exactly how much is left. The scenery shifts steadily: larch forest lower down, then bare rock past 2,200 m, up to a summit ringed by glaciers with the Ortles massif dominating the skyline.
Getting the ride right
A compact or triple crankset isn’t a luxury on this steady, unrelenting gradient. The road, closed to motor traffic until its spring opening (usually late May or June depending on snowfall), draws heavy cyclist traffic in summer — better to start early to beat both the heat lower down and the tour-bus crowds near the top. A windproof jacket is essential for the descent, with the temperature gap between valley and summit often topping 15°C.
When to go
June to September, since the road only opens once the snow has been cleared — sometimes not until late May depending on the year. July-August offers the best conditions but also the heaviest traffic; early September remains a solid choice for a quieter climb.
Good to know
Prato allo Stelvio, a small German-speaking South Tyrolean village, has a choice of accommodation geared toward cycling tourism, with convenient access to the neighbouring Passo di Umbrail for riders after a second pass in the same outing.
