The climbs

Alpe di Siusi (1844m)

West side from Prato all'Isarco
24.9 km at 6.1%
[Rich] A lesser known b*st*rd. Although it's not that high, you start from just 325m, making for over 1500m of height gain. A twisting, pleasant (if traffic-heavy) road leads up to Fiè a Sciliar, after which the road flattens out for several kilometres. Following the turn off at Siusi, though, the grinding climbing kicks back in - albeit on a pleasant, pine-lined road restricted to traffic during the daytime.
[Paul]

Passo del Bernina (2330m)


	From Ospizio Bernina train station Less than 2km [Rich] A stunningly easy climb when you take the train most of the way up. [Paul]

Passo Campolongo (1875m)


	South side from Arabba 4 km at 7.4 % - H.C [Rich] This is the shortest and least spectacular of the 4 climbs in the classic Dolomites circuit (when taken anti-clockwise). Quite steep, mind. [Paul]

Passo Eira (2208m)


	West side from San Antonio 6.7 km at 5.9% [Rich] Never too steep, and pleasant climbing - although the constant traffic from Livigno can get rather annoying. [Paul]

Passo del Foscagno (2291m)


	North side [Rich] [Paul]

Passo Gardena (2121m)


	East side from Corvara 9.6 km at 6.2 % [Rich] [Paul]

Passo Gavia (2652m)

North side from Bormio
25.6 km at 5.5% - Hors Cat
[Rich] Long, but with several easier passages to recover on. This is a very enjoyable climb through and then above pine trees - with some stunning views. Beyond the car-heavy lower slopes, the route zig-zags over a series of steep hairpins, before winding up to the lake at the top. The higher you get, the thinner the traffic and the narrower and more poorly-paved the road.
[Paul]

Passo del Ghisallo (754m)

From Bellagio
10.6 km at 5.2%
[Rich] A regular on the route of the end-of-season Tour of Lombardy, this famous climb leads up to Madonna di Ghisallo, the church dedicated to (Italian) cyclists whose interior is lined with the bikes and jerseys of campionissimo throught the ages. The lower slopes are very steep, but there's a long patch of easy riding (some downhill) before the final few hairpins to the top.
[Paul]

Forcola di Livigno (2315m)


	South side from Bivio Bernina 4 km at 6.7% [Rich] [Paul]

Passo Mortirolo (1851m)


	East side from Monno [Rich] The so-called easy side of the legendarily steep Mortirolo is nonetheless tricky. There is a brief stretch of respite 3 kms from the top, before the steep slopes kick in again. [Paul]

Passo Pinei (1437m)


	East side from Ortisei 3 km [Rich] A short but steep climb from this side. [Paul]

Passo Pordoi (2239m)


	West side from Passo Sella 6 km [Rich] A regular in the Giro, this climb is well-surfaced and never very difficult. It also offers some stunning views. [Paul]

Passo Sella (2240m)


	North side from Selva 11 km [Rich] [Paul]

Passo Stelvio (2758m)


	South side from Bormio 21.5 km at 7.1% [Rich] The easier and less pretty side of Europe's second highest pass is still a long slog with its fair share of hairpins. A series of short tunnels on the early slopes leads to a spectacular zig-zagging road, before a flatter section and the final few steep kilometres to the top. Be prepared to wrap up warm at the summit. [Paul]
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