Italy · virtual cycling route

Ride Stelvio Pass Indoors

Stelvio Pass route in Italy — Photo: Damian Morys from New York City, United States · CC BY 2.0

Prato side is famous for 48 numbered hairpins stacked beneath summit. Long approach through forest gives way to exposed final wall where switchbacks tighten and summit remains in view.

Distance: 24.3 km from Prato
Elevation: about 1,810 m gain
Difficulty: Very hard

Outdoor climb figures are rounded reference profiles. Exact VirtualRide distance depends on selected endpoints and available Street View path.

Route character and pacing

Length is main challenge. Average grade is around 7.4%, but fatigue makes final kilometres decisive. Build session as long tempo climb or split it into lower forest and upper hairpin blocks.

Landmarks to watch for

Early road passes villages and forest before Ortler views open. Numbered upper hairpins become densely stacked, with Hotel Franzenshöhe below and summit buildings visible for a long final approach.

Indoor session idea

Use lower half as endurance block and upper switchbacks as progressive tempo. Full-distance simulation is long; for compact workout, start near Franzenshöhe and use final hairpins as sustained threshold effort.

Street View setup

Select Prato allo Stelvio to Passo dello Stelvio. Snow closures and capture dates can affect summit imagery. Quick start follows this classic side.

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