Climb 19 of 22South Tyrol, Italy
Passo dello Stelvio
With 48 hairpin bends on its north side, the Passo dello Stelvio is the highest pass with a tarmac road in the Eastern Alps. It sits in northern Italy, by the Swiss border.
- km long
- 24.7
- metres up
- 1,832
- steepest part
- 14%
- Flat
- Gentle
- Steady
- Hard
- Steep
How long does it take to ride up Passo dello Stelvio?
For a rider who weighs 75 kg, riding at a steady pace with no stops:
- New to exercise: about 5 hr 34 min
- I ride now and then: about 4 hr 12 min
- I ride most weeks: about 3 hr 23 min
Put in your own weight and fitness to see your time.
Ride Passo dello Stelvio at home
In Couch to Climb, the plan for Passo dello Stelvio is 14 weeks, with 3 rides a week on your smart trainer. It is climb 19 of 22. You start on Box Hill for free, then work up the climbs one at a time.
About the climb
The climb starts in Prato allo Stelvio, in South Tyrol, and climbs to the top of the pass at 2,757 m. Each of the 48 hairpins on this side is numbered on a stone, so you can count them as you go. The road gets steeper in the second half.
The Austrian Empire built the road between 1820 and 1825, and it has changed little since. The Giro d'Italia first crossed it in 1953, when Fausto Coppi beat Hugo Koblet. The highest point of each Giro is now called the Cima Coppi, after him.
Riding it for real
The pass is open to traffic from May to November and closed in winter.
Questions about riding Passo dello Stelvio
With 48 hairpin bends on its north side, the Passo dello Stelvio is the highest pass with a tarmac road in the Eastern Alps. It sits in northern Italy, by the Swiss border.
How many hairpins does the Stelvio have?
The north side, from Prato allo Stelvio, has 48 hairpins. Each one is numbered on a stone.
How high is the Stelvio Pass?
The top is 2,757 m above sea level. It is the second highest pass with a tarmac road in the Alps.
When is the Stelvio Pass open?
It is open from May to November. In winter it is closed.
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.
