Cycling San Luca/Colle della Guardia

Short but legendary, the San Luca climb is only about 2 km long — yet it has written some of the most iconic pages in Italian cycling. Its brutal gradients, with ramps up to 18%, make it a true test of power and rhythm. This ascent has long been the signature finish of the Giro dell’Emilia, one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious one-day races, often decided on its punishing final meters. The climb also hosted the final time trial of the 2019 Giro d’Italia, and it took the international stage again during the 2024 Tour de France Grand Départ in Bologna — confirming its mythic status in world cycling.

The first 800 m climb steadily at 10–12%. After a brief flatter section, the road rears up again at the Curva delle Orfanelle, named after the orphanage that once stood here, marking the start of the hardest stretch. The gradient peaks around 18% along a straight ramp before the portico crosses the road. The final 400 m ease slightly to 6–8%, bringing you triumphantly to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca.