Three sides of the Stelvio

As variety is the spice of life, here are your options for climbing the Stelvio

The ascent from Prato allo Stelvio is the longest and has the highest vertical gain of the three directions of ascent. From Prato, the road rises 1,808m to the 2,758m summit, averaging 7.4% over 24.3km. The climb becomes more challenging over the second half, with a consistent gradient of around 8 or 9%. This side of the climb possesses the iconic 48 hairpins, and is generally richer in terms of scenery. This is the softer side of the Stelvio and it was used for 2014’s Giro d’italia. At 7.1% average, it’s less steep than the opposite side, and at 21.5km it’s also shorter – consequently gaining less altitude. The majority of the climb is at a forgiving gradient of 4 or 5%. The final few kilometres, though, average a punishing 12%. This side of the mountain is often used as a descent, but is feared by many pros for its long dark tunnels. The Umbrail Pass is not technically part of the Stelvio ascent, but converges to the same point, joining the climb from Bormio close to the summit. From Santa Maria at 1,375m, the Umbrail Pass lasts only 13.2km, but averages 8.5%, climbing 1,126m to its 2,501m summit, at which point the road continues up to the Stelvio peak. We completed this ascent the day after tackling Prato, and it was tough.