Cycling the Passo Mortirolo

The very mention of the Mortirolo sends a shiver down the spine of any cyclist so feared are its savage gradients.

Its not fantastic scenery or epic views that make the Mortirolo special, it’s all about the savage unrelenting tortuous gradient. The Mortirolo is the climb that started the current trend in modern cycling where organisers of the Grand Tours decided to seek out ever more challenging slopes to test the riders and entertain the public, and we love them for it.

Its first inclusion in the Giro d’Italia was on stage 15 in 1990 and first to the summit was the late Marco Pantani. In honour of the great rider it has been given the nickname Salita de Pirata or ‘Pirate’s Ascent’ and since his death in 2004 the first rider to the top when it appears on the route of the Giro is now awarded the Cima Pantani.

Details

Length

11.7km

Base Elevation

562m

Summit Elevation

1,860m

Elevation Gain

1,306m

Gradient (avg)

11.1 %

Max Gradient

20 %

Gearing Suggestion

34/34

The Climb

- From Mazzo -

Get ready for battle, everything you have read about this climb is true, it declares all out war on your legs from the very start and just gets harder and harder. That’s not to put you off though as this is the sort of challenge we cyclists live for, if the road exists, we want to climb it.

Heading onto the wooded mountain slopes the narrow road starts on a 10% average slope, then increases to 11%, 12% and there is even a kilometre of 15%. Steeper still in patches you may never actually sit down in your saddle as you crawl between its 32 numbered bends. Passing the Pantani statue after eight kilometres try and take some inspiration from the legendary climber and fight on over the remainder of the climb which does, thankfully ease, just a little towards the summit.

“It’s the hardest climb I’ve ever done. It’s savage, unbelievably steep and it just goes on and on.” - Mark Cavendish

Points of interest

Mortirolo

The Mortirolo’s name derives from the Italian for dead and relates to the mass cull of pagan insurgents by Charles the Great’s army in 773.

San Matteo

At the four kilometer point of the climb stands the San Matteo Church, where if you like you can say a prayer because shortly after you reach the toughest, 19% slopes.

Rifugio Antonioli

Just four bends or 600 metres before the summit you will find the Rifugio Antonioli but push on past and finish the climb before returning for a rest, unless you are already out of energy

Marco Pantani

At around the eight kilometre mark in Piaz de l’Acqua is the permanent monument to Marco Pantani which was erected in 2006 by the Italian Professional Riders Association.

The Summit

The summit is empty, there is no fanfare or welcoming Rifugio, just a simple sign adorned with thousands of stickers applied by those who have taken on its slopes and beaten them.