cycling Passo dello Stelvio - Prato

Any chance of climbing the Stelvio in May? Thought it would be possible but realized the road is closed until June and then reading stories of Snowfalls in August are making me think is quite a stupid idea...

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

When i started at 2003 with Cycling i had a lot of dreams and 1 of them was climbing the Passo stelvio in Italy. 6 years later i had the opportunity to go to stelvio and climb it from 2 sides, Bormio and Prato. It was so beautifull that i took 1200 pictures while i was climbing. The best side for me is from Prato with the 48 turns and beautifull views. All i can say is that i will be back again. Greetz Marc

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I climbed Stelvio from the Prato side in September 2008. When I started out it 20 degrees in the valley and once I made my way past the tree line I cannot tell you how radically the conditions changed. First some sleet, followed by wind and light snow. The road zig zagging out in front of me and the weather closing in was one thing but the sheer beauty and scale of the mountain and surrounding valley was simply amazing. I managed to ride a solid temp with a 27:39 ratio for the first 12 or 13kms but started to suffer after that. As the fatigue and general exposure set in I found my myself lashing at my gears seeking something else I could ride on top of. At 86kg I am not exactly climbing pedigree. On reaching that last rise as it flattens out, before dropping radically down the other side towards Bormio, was bliss. I staggered off the bike to be met by Italian man with scarcely any teeth and within minutes he was pointing at photos of Cadel Evans. The descent was to say the least quick - topping out at around 90kms/hr. With my face and most of my body numb from cold I rolled into the first bar in Prato feeling like I had just been to another planet and knocked back a Jaegermeister.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

My first real mountain climb and what a place to start?! A friendly Italian neighbour had said to us that the only way to make the climb was via the Prato (Merano) side ""just as Coppi did"". Coppi, Italys favourite cycling son made the mountain famous in the Giro of 1953 and the mountain is effectively named after him; ""Cima Coppi"" However you climb it, nothing can be taken away from the achievement of getting to the top of the highest pass in Italy and second highest in the Alps. Soon we spotted turn 48 and were pleased to see turn 47! 18 km to go! The first section into Trafoi and through the forest is hard work as the legs get used to the constant climbing but the cool air of the forest is a blessing. Out of the trees you start to see what lies ahead! The view up the pass is spectacular and we were rewarded by a clear view of the top, stunning scenery, glaciers and hanging valleys to your left. Even the sound of alpine cows with their bells makes the effort all the more worthwhile. Finally, after a long way up, feeling like itll never end you get to turn 1 and it’s worth getting out of the saddle and sprinting. This climb is highly recommended if youre prepared to leave your sanity at the bottom.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I climbed the Stelvio 4 times, from all 3 sides. I cannot tell which one is the hardest, but the one from Prato is undoubtedly the most beautiful. It just doesnt seem to have an end. The views you get are incredibly spectacular. Every time you are on the top, you just cant understand the madness there. It is always busy, and every cyclists dream has come true there. I still have to meet someone who does NOT want to take a picture from above, having climbed it from Prato. I have driven it up many times, climbed it and still, I want to climb or drive it again, it is just so beautiful. For those of you who havent climbed it yet: you have a job to do!

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I climbed Stelvio from Trafoi on Mtb in September 13th. The beginning was looking fine, but amazing is counting of curves that starts on fourty six and you get to the middle pretty easy,but as i was getting higher, temperature has gone lower, and appeared mist and rain. Couple of last curves i had to stop to warm up myself. Uphill i met many people with ski going on glacier.. After hot drink in the bar and short relax sterted realy hard downhill. Unfortunately i hadnt wear enough and was very cool to get down! I recommed to everyone to take good wear if you want to climb on Stelvio as you never know hows weather up on the hill. Btw. beautiful pass.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Climbed the Stelvio, East side from Prato on 8/29/08 as part of Andy Hampstens Giro Anniversary Tour. The valley was very warm, but once into the forest as you gained elevation you could feel the air cool. Switchback 48 is memorable as well as disconcerting as you realize you got 47 more to the top. On the lower part of the ascent the switch backs seem to be spaced about 1-2K apart with an average grade of 7-8%. As you get into the 20s and out of the forest, the views are spectacular and you can now see the work ahead of you.The grade steepens to 12% at times, but mostly remains at 7-8%. The switch gives you a slight respite which at that point I was thankful for. Since I had seen the climb on You Tube, I recognized the last 5K and found enthusiasm in my cadence and effort. The 1 switchback mark was eagerly received and the approach up and over the passo was ""epic"". Next day was ""Stelvio Bike day"" so we rode up the back from Bormio. Equally as challenging especially thew last 5K. The top was 5000 crazy climbers. It was truly a cycling celebration. The Stelvio is a must climb for any serious bicycle enthusiast. Ciao!

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I climbed the Stelvio on the 29th of july 2008. The weather was good. It was 2 hours of complete madness ( and great pleasure at the summit ). The view you have is magnifficent. Once above the trees you can see the last 10 km of road like a ribbon on the mountain.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

One of the most spectacular climbs you can find anywhere...a true monster. Every road cyclist should do it sooner or later. I must commend myself...did both sides in one day. First from Bormio, down over Umbrail to Switzarlend and than up from Prato and back to Bormio. Climb from Prato is one of the hardest climbs I have ever done and I did few of them. Was it because I was already tired or because I had ""only"" 39x25 I dont know...but it hurted. Good thing is that no matter how much it hurts it is so spectacular that it pays out. Simmilar experiance I had this year on Bonette from Jausiers.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Rode it from Livigno, then over the Offenpass then its basically downhill until you reach Prato, a good warm up! I think the first bit is the hardest, its hot in the valley and you ride up hairpin no.48 and its a long time before the next hairpin which is by the way then marked no.44!!! amazing scenery and views, be aware though as rain in the valley is snow at the summit even in August. take plenty of energy gels and dance music in your ipod.....im sure its not purest but its definately helps!!!

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Started from Livigno, over the Offenpass, then began the climb from Prato. The first part was very difficult and the gap between hairpin no.48 and the next one, goes on for ages!!! Hail and thunder at Hairpin no.20, a real adventure and completely knackered and very chuffed!!! Mortirolo next.....

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Rode it several times between 2001 and 2007. North and Southrouting including trips before, after or just single stelvio. It is good manageable with a normal 53/39 or even better compact setup. Very nice - fast and also slow as seigthseeing perfect.

My personal climb rating: 2 stars

Our plan was to get into the cars and drive from Grosio, over the top of the Stelvio on the other (eastern) side of the mountain, all the way to small village Prato. Once there we would unload the bikes and climb the Stelvio from the eastern side. Biking Route: Prato – Trafoi – Passo dello Stelvio – Bormio – Grosio 72 km The first few kilometers were easy and they served the purpose to warm us for the big climb. We started the climb at a steady pace and used the initial 5% gradient to settle in to riding before the road kicked up into the trees and stayed at a steady 9 or 10%. There was a little traffic on this road except for the few other cyclists with the same (crazy) idea. Since we started our ride at 11:30 it was already very hot and no wind. The real climb started at the small village Trafoi, and from than on, it was everybody on its own. When we reached the first switchback one of the guys (Dado) set the pace which was too fast for most of the group. Soon everyone settled into their own pace and good progress was made up the mountain. I was glad that I invested money in my Shimano R600 compact crank set with the 50/34 chain rings. For most of the climb I was on 34 x 24 or 27. At 2,000m the trees disappeared and we could all feel the air becoming thinner, the heat of the day was countered by the height gained and it was warm but not too oppressive. The only problem with coming out of the trees was that we could now see the road snaking away above us to the summit. Legs were aching now and each hairpin was a blessing as it gave momentary respite from the gradient. As we got within 300m of the summit, I felt drawn to the top of this great pass, and began to sprint effortlessly, accelerating all the way over the top. It was an emotional experience to blast over this great climb. My time was 2 hours and 12 minutes, but the best time was had by Kreso who made it to the top in 2 hours and 9 minutes. The last guy from our group made it to the top after 3 hours and 5 minutes. We all felt like winners and were very proud of our achievement. One of the guys called his family in Croatia immediately after stopping at the top, to let them know that he made it! This just shows how important this ride was!

My personal climb rating: 0 stars

this is the climb that all climbing lovers should do at least once in their cycling lives. I rode it on my 34x26 campy compact setup and that was just about perfect. the scenery is unbelieveable and the 48 switchbacks are all numbered so you can mark your progress. beware that at almost 30 km of climbing, it will be dehydration and hunger, not the steepness that will wear you down. I rode well on a hot day where the passo temp was 72 degrees f. and valley temps were 100 f. until about 8 switchbacks to go and then got passed by a girl as I slowed due to dehydration-oh, the ""girl"" was connie carpenter olympic road champion in 1984-so, I didnt feel that bad. as an added bonus, I got to descend with her husband, x-pro cyclist davis phenny-what a day! bring your camera. take photos that you will cherish your liftime. I didnt, so I have to re-ride it to take photos-too bad.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I climbed both sides of Stelvio with two friends in August 2007. We started from Bormio, climbed to the top, descended down the Umbrial Pass through Santa Maria, rode around to Prato, and then back up the ""famous"" side of Stelvio before descending back down to Bormio. It was easily the most spectacular ride I have ever done. The first time up, an Italian rider caught up and rode with me the last couple of Kilometers. He spoke about as much English as I did Italian, but Danilo and I had a great conversation anyway. Halfway up the second time, I was passed by another Italian going about three times faster. I didnt feel too bad though because it was Gilberto Simoni. He smiled politely as he went whizzing past, not even sweating.The climbing was sustained and difficult. The second ascent of the day was hotter and longer and if not for the restaurant half-way up, I may still be there. Going up, the tunnels on the Bormio side were merely interesting. Descending through them with no lights and oncoming traffic was somewhat nerve-wracking. I cant wait to do it again.

My personal climb rating: 0 stars

I climbed the Stelvio on August 11,2007. Im 57 years old and without a doubt it was the most sustained insane exertion I have ever done. Hundreds of cyclists on a fine day and I was passed by every one of them. In the next two days I did the Gavia and the Mortirolo. Now Im a bad boy of the alps!

I am 48 years old and Swiss. The coldest I have ever felt in my life was in August in Italy! Descending the Stelvio in the snow during a thunderstorm was also one of the daftest things I have ever done. Thank heavens for the restaurant 400m down from the top. I shall never forget me and several others huddled round a fire, shaking all over for an hour. Strangely the sun breaks through and 60 minutes later I am heading towards Lana in full sunshine. Extraordinary.

In July 2007 I cycled for the first time in the mountains and on our fourth day we climbed the Stelvio from two sides (first from Bormio, in the afternoon from Prato). The climb in the morning went quite well, and the fact that it we arrived in the snow (in July!) only made it more heroic. The last kilometres were the hardest ones - lots of marvelous views throughout the entire climb. In the afternoon things went less smoothly: from the moment that the climb really started - Trafoi - I had a very hard time (due to the fact that I dont have a triple?) and when you get out of the forest, the Stelvio is really challenging you ... as you can see the last ten kilometres of winding road in front of you. Just keep on looking at where you have just come from (you win lots of metres in a couple of bends) and keep on counting down the hairpin curves. At N°10 I realized that I was going to make it, and I really started enjoying myself. During our stay we also climbed Gavia from both sides and did the Mortirolo, but Passo dello Stelvio from Prato is definitely the hardest one we did. A climb you must have done at least once in your life!

I climbed the Stelvio two years ago as part of a touring group called CycleItalia. The climb was fantastic! 48 switch backs, one for every year I was old. The altitude made it hard to get to my climbing HR so its the air not the heart thats the limiting factor. Wow, the views! Too bad so many of the year round ice fields are melting away- geology looks fantastic. And the downhill towards Bormio? What a road to fly on!! Cheers to all to try it! David

Just the most amazing climb, with out a doubt my no1 climb. A must do climb, more than any other. The French alpine climbs seem like heartless motorways in comparison.

last agust on my way to merate through stelvio pass, in my small car with my family , while climbing ,my wife tells me , their are cars comming down coverd with snow ,i could not belive in the month of agust ,you find snow ,once we were on the top , every thing was white , with out snow chain the first time in my life ,i really got scaerd ,came down by useing first gear,with out handling the breaks .if i were alone, it was no question i was with my wife and two children ,when we passed forth bend, i thanked god.