Ph. Credit: TVB Vinschgau / APT Val Venosta
PASSO STELVIO
26 July – 1.885 m | 57,3 km
Start: h. 9.00 (7.00 from Bolzano)
Crono Prato allo Stelvio – Passo Stelvio | 23,3 km • 1.806 hm
SHORT STAGE DESCRIPTION
Bus transfer from Bolzano to Prato dello Stelvio where a rich refreshment awaits us before starting the legendary climb up the Stelvio Pass. As soon as we leave the village we are on the starting line of the timed section. With still pedalable gradients we reach the villages of Gomagoi and Trafoi. Here we begin the 48 U-turns on the South Tyrolean side. It is surely one of the most impressive roads in the world! Not for nothing is it called “the Queen of Alpine roads.” The road was built between 1820 and 1928 as an alternative route between Tyrol and Lombardy region, then Austro-Hungarian territory. At the top we descend toward Bormio and after a few km we turn left to take us over the Umbrail Pass (Giogo di S. Maria), on the border between Italy and Switzerland. On Swiss territory we descend to S.Maria Münstair where we enter the Monastero Valley that takes us back to Italy. As soon as the fortified city walls of Glorenza/Glurns become visible, we are also almost at our destination. We enter the town through the big gate and cross it along the main street. At the end we reach the festival square, where lunch is served in the shade of the fortified city walls. Outside the walls the buses are waiting for the return to Bolzano.
