From 1 June to 8 September, cyclists will be able to enjoy the wonders of 9 epic Alpine climbs closed to motorized traffic (Stelvio, Gavia, Mortirolo, Laghi di Cancano, Forcola, Spluga, San Marco, Campo Moro), pedaling in complete tranquility. Press release.
VALTELLINA: THE MOST EPIC ALPINE PASSES OPEN ONLY TO CYCLISTS, CLOSED TO MOTORS
Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina: 15 dates and 9 climbs that made cycling history, from June to September 2024
To confirm its cycling vocation, Valtellina offers a new edition of Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina, an initiative that closes the most beautiful climbs and mountain roads to motorized traffic. A great opportunity to cycle safely among hairpin bends, mountain pastures and high altitude panoramas.
Valtellina, Alpine border valley; to the south Lake Como and the metropolis of Milan, to the north Switzerland. Valtellina and its Alpine passes, historic connections with northern Europe, mountain roads made of curves and hairpin bends, great climbs and naturally descents.
At the top is every cyclist’s dream: the Alpine passes, timeless classics consecrated in epic stages of the Giro d’Italia in a blend of beauty and effort, charm and harmony. A challenge sealed by a sign that – like an icon of contemporary art – awaits cyclists for the ritual photo. Is there anything more exciting?
Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina 2024 is the opportunity to tackle the most beautiful mountain roads in the Province of Sondrio, those that must be done “at least once in a lifetime”, without cars, without traffic, only among cyclists.
The scheduled dates – from June to September – are 15. The climbs are 9. The first stop is at the Forcola Pass starting from Livigno, the weekend of 1-2 June.
THE TRANSNATIONAL STEPS: STELVIO AND SPLUGA
The names of some climbs already say it all and in the Enjoy calendar there is the history of cycling, of an undertaking often linked to a name, which will remain forever in the collective imagination.
The Stelvio Pass, connection between Valtellina and Val Venosta, is made up of hairpin bends (40 on the Lombard side, 48 on the South Tyrolean side) of effort and sweat, which almost make you find yourself in a parallel universe, with only one objective: the highest point high at 2,758 meters above sea level. Cima Coppi par excellence in honor of the Campionissimo, who won a legendary stage here in 1953, will also be the highest point of the next Giro d’Italia 2024, in the 16th stage on May 21st from Livigno to Santa Cristina Valgardena. There are two traffic closures on the Stelvio on the calendar, one on 12 June from Bormio (SO) and one on 31 August from Bormio (SO), but also from Trafoi in the province of Bolzano and Santa Maria in Val Müstair (CH).
Moving to the opposite side of the province, in Valchiavenna, the Spluga Pass is a border crossing (2,117 meters above sea level) that connects Italy and Switzerland. It was opened in the 19th century not far from the ancient Via Rezia built by Augustus in Roman times. The route offers a mix of the human and the natural: waterfalls, tunnels, very green mountain pastures and the artificial lake of Montespluga. The appointment is Sunday 30 June with traffic closed from the town of Campodolcino.
«These places, in addition to extraordinary mountain landscapes and high-altitude natural environments of great beauty and environmental value, are also places of memory. Places where today, thanks to sporting activity, further value has been added, both recreational and discovery. Enjoy allows, then, a broad-spectrum experience: sporting, aesthetic, cultural and immersion in nature without a car for once. An experience worth living.” Says Franco Claretti, director of the Stelvio National Park, who also has three stages on the calendar at the Cancano Lakes (ascent from Fior d’Alpe in Valdidentro on Thursday 13 June, Friday 12 July, Friday 30 August).
FROM THE RHAETIC ALPS TO THE OROBIE
The Gavia Pass between Valtellina and Val Camonica is also in the Stelvio National Park. The climb is a vertical journey up to an altitude of 2,652 metres: fir, larch and stone pine forests, then high altitude meadows and finally – looking up – the peaks of the Ortles-Cevedale and Adamello groups with their glaciers. The challenge starts from Santa Caterina Valfurva and from S. Apollonia on the Brescia side (Friday 14 June and Sunday 1 September). But we know that the sky dictates the rules on Gavia. Like on that 5th June 1988. The Chiesa stage in Valmalenco – Bormio wrote one of the most incredible pages of the Giro d’Italia: snow, temperatures below zero, gusts of wind, bikes pushed by hand and riders at the limit of exhaustion.
The climbs each have their own characteristic, an anecdote, a name. Like the Mortirolo Pass forever linked to Marco Pantani (closed on Saturday 13 July and Thursday 29 August), or an ancient history like the pass between Valtellina and Val Brembana called San Marco (closed on Saturday 15 June) because of the Serenissima Republic which he wanted it built in the 16th century to facilitate his trade; or a panorama of pure beauty like Campo Moro (Saturday 6 July and Sunday 8 September) with the Bernina massif guiding the climb.
The Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina project was born in 2018 with the passes within the Stelvio National Park as protagonists. Today, all the main crossings in the Province of Sondrio are present on the calendar and it has gradually become a wide-ranging initiative that sees many enthusiasts, both local and from all over Europe, come together (the last edition recorded 23 thousand attendees!). The event which focuses on cyclists does not require registration and is not competitive and is also open to hikers and anyone (with any non-motorised means) who wants to breathe pure, clean high mountain air.
All information: www.valtellina.it/enjoy-stelvio-valtellina.
VALTELLINA – LAND OF CYCLING
From the great Alpine passes to the cycle paths of the valley floor, from trail routes to bike parks, Valtellina offers infinite possibilities for every type of cycling holiday combined with uncontaminated nature, natural parks, vineyards and good, genuine food and wine. Road-bike, mountain-bike, gravel and cycle touring. Here, those who cycle are welcome! Find out more at: www.valtellina.it/it/bike.
– Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina website
Layout and graphics: Roberto Chiappa
Text, photos and video: © Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina (Press Office)