Climb 20 of 22Lombardy, Italy
Mortirolo
Lance Armstrong once said the Mortirolo was the hardest climb he had ever ridden. Also called the Passo della Foppa, it is a mountain pass in Lombardy, in the Italian Alps. The road from Mazzo di Valtellina is the best known way up.
- km long
- 11.5
- metres up
- 1,289
- steepest part
- 19%
- Flat
- Gentle
- Steady
- Hard
- Steep
How long does it take to ride up Mortirolo?
For a rider who weighs 75 kg, riding at a steady pace with no stops:
- New to exercise: about 3 hr 47 min
- I ride now and then: about 2 hr 35 min
- I ride most weeks: about 1 hr 55 min
Put in your own weight and fitness to see your time.
Ride Mortirolo at home
In Couch to Climb, the plan for Mortirolo is 14 weeks, with 3 rides a week on your smart trainer. It is climb 20 of 22. You start on Box Hill for free, then work up the climbs one at a time.
About the climb
This climb starts in Mazzo di Valtellina and climbs towards Val Camonica. It is steep from the first kilometre and stays steep almost all the way to the top, at 1,852 m.
The Giro d'Italia first crossed the Mortirolo in 1990. In 1994 Marco Pantani was first over the top on the Mazzo side. A monument to him stands about 8 km up this road. Since his death in 2004, the first rider over the top in the Giro wins the Cima Pantani prize.
Questions about riding Mortirolo
Lance Armstrong once said the Mortirolo was the hardest climb he had ever ridden. Also called the Passo della Foppa, it is a mountain pass in Lombardy, in the Italian Alps. The road from Mazzo di Valtellina is the best known way up.
Where is the Pantani monument on the Mortirolo?
It stands at about the eighth kilometre of the road from Mazzo di Valtellina. It was put up in 2006.
Which side of the Mortirolo is the best known?
The road from Mazzo di Valtellina is the most famous side. It is the one this climb follows.
How high is the Mortirolo?
The top of the pass is 1,852 m above sea level.
Updated . Written by Next Big Leap Ltd, who make the Couch to Climb app.
Ride up a famous climb on your indoor bike
Couch to Climb is a step by step plan for a smart trainer at home. It takes you from the sofa to the top of a real climb, with no stops. Your first climb, Box Hill, is free.
