Top 100 Alpine Passes and Climbs
Epic Cycling Climbs - Top 100 Passes and Climbs
In the Alps, altitude matters. The character of passes and climbs changes significantly with elevation. Above 2,500 metres, you enter a select group of extraordinary roads that make you feel small and insignificant, capturing the very essence of why we ride in the high mountains. Many of these routes were originally built as military roads.
Descending to passes between 2,000 and 2,500 metres, you encounter many of the historic Alpine crossings — particularly in Switzerland, a country with a long history as a transit route. These roads form the backbone of the Alpine mountain network, connecting not only nations but also local valleys and villages.
The lower you go, the more local the roads tend to become. That does not mean they are any less challenging. In fact, lower-altitude climbs can be incredibly steep — the Passo di Croce Domini is a perfect example of this.
This selection are my favourite roads in the Alps. There are the usual suspects on this list but also some less travelled roads.
Above 2500m
There are only 11 roads with passes and climbs over 2,500m altitude. These are the true crown jewels of the Alps. Each is totally unique yet they are bound together by the drama of the altitude, the unpredictability of the weather, the panoramics and the length of the climb. Ticking all of them off your list is a true achievement.
Pass Height, Name, Country, Type, From/To, Description
2,829 m, Ötztaler Gletscherstraße, Austria, dead end from Sölden: There are multiple claims to the highest paved road in the Alps but the Ötztaler Gletscherstrasse wins this competition. The French passes claiming the "highest" are in other categories though. In any case, this is a fiendishly tough road and as it is a dead end, it is dividing opinion if it counts as "highest". If you are in the area, it is worth tackling and checking out yourself.
2,802 m, Cime de la Bonette, France, loop road connecting Jausiers and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, via Col de la Bonette: Another "highest", this is in the category of "highest through road". The loop road was added by the locals in the 1960s to beat the Col d'Iseran in the 'highest" category and while the road is higher, it is not a pass road. This is though, after the Colle del Nivolet, the most beautiful and epic alpine road there is and uniquely for a high pass it is rising above many of the surrounding mountains providing a panorama looking down rather than up. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,770 m, Col de l'Iseran, France, pass connecting Val-d'Isère (Tarentaise) and Bonneval-sur-Arc (Maurienne): Connecting the Tarentaise and Maurienne Valleys, the Col d'Iseran is the highest paved pass road in the Alps (period!). It is mythical, epic (especially ascending from the south via Bonneval sur Arc) and a must on any cyclist's list. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,758 m, Stelvio Pass, Italy, pass connecting Prad am Stilfser Joch and Bormio: Highest and most famous pass in Italy. Counting both sides, it covers 86 hairpins on the Italian side. If the Swiss ascent via the Umbrail pass is counted too, this will add 33 switchback bringing the total 119. What further reason is required to ascend all three ways? Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,750 m, Kaunertaler Gletscherstraße, Austria, dead end from Prutz: Super high dead end road, deep into the mountains. Steep, varied, remote and long. This is a lesser known road but a true gem as it ends at the foot of a glacier which turns the landscape into ice and rock. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,744 m, Col Agnel / Colle dell'Agnello, France / Italy, pass connecting Queyras and Pontechianale: Hannibal is believed to have crossed the mountains in 218BC not far from here at the Col de la Traversette (although it could have been further north at Mont Cenis or even the Petit St Bernard). The pass maintained a remoteness as this border region between Italy and France is a region less developed. The road is totally magnificent and a must ride pass.
2,715 m, Col de la Bonette, France, pass connecting Jausiers and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée: Connecting the Ubaye and Tinee valleys in the Mercantour national parc, this is a high pass without even a sign as the Cime de la Bonette loop road steals the show. Whatever can be said about the Cime, is true for the Col. This is a wonderful ride through the Southern French Alps with epic panoramic views right along the Italian border. Water and harsh weather rule here.
2,645 m, Col du Galibier, France, pass connecting Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon / Le Bourg-d'Oisans: The most famous mountain pass in cycling terms. Despite not being in the "highest" category, the Col du Galibier is Tour de France royalty, first ridden on the 10th July 1911. It is often the defining climb of the tour and certainly one of the most anticipated. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,641 m, Colle del Nivolet, Italy, pass / dead end from Locana (Piedmont): The most beautiful climb in the Alps. While this is a subjective assessment, the Nivolet has an unreal dreaminess about it that makes it so special. A tough yet lovely road that weaves its way up the mountain and ends in nowhere. You just ride this road for the sheer pleasure. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,621 m, Passo di Gavia, Italy, pass connecting Bormio (Sondrio) and Ponte di Legno (Brescia): The wild kid of Lombardy. Tempestuous and beautiful, famous for adverse weather, the Gavia is unique. A more popular ascent from Bormio and terrific almost single track road from Ponte di Legno define this climb. A must! Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,571 m, Edelweißspitze, Austria, dead end from Fusch (Salzburg) and Heiligenblut (Carinthia): A wide road in super condition, the Hochalpenstrasse is the Austrian crown jewels amongst all its fabulous roads. The road is hard and long and ends in cobbles. This is the best Austria has to offer. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,504 m, Großglockner Hochalpenstraße (Hochtor), Austria, pass connecting Fusch (Salzburg) and Heiligenblut (Carinthia): The Hochtor Pass on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is the highest road pass in Austria is, it reaches an elevation of 2,504 meters. This scenic and historic road is a popular tourist destination and connects Bruck in Salzburg and Heiligenblut in Carinthia
2,501 m, Umbrailpass / Giogo di Santa Maria / Pass Umbrail, Switzerland / Italy, pass connecting Santa Maria Val Müstair and Bormio: Virtually unknown, this is the "highest" pass road in Switzerland. Not too long ago, this pass was not even paved and it is eternally eclipsed by the mighty Stelvio next door. It need not hide though as the ascend is fabulous.
Between 2250m and 2500m
The roads up to 2,500m altitude are so varied and their characters also changes from north to south and east to west that there is virtually no common denominator apart from that those passes are bringing you into the heart of the Alps. Some are historically important like the Great St Bernhard pass while others connect mountain communities like the Colle di Sampeyre.
Pass Height, Name, Country, Type, From/To, Description
2,481 m, Colle Fauniera, Italy, pass connecting Ponte Marmora / Valgrana and Demonte: Formerly known as Colle di Mortes due to battles in war, this pass is a busted up road through the most wild, forgotten and remote parts of the Italian Alps. A rickety mountain road connecting mountain villages. The Giro only rode it once in 1999, won by Marco Pantani for whom a statue remain permanently on the pass. This is definitely a bucket list pass.
2,478 m, Nufenenpass / Passo della Novena, Switzerland, pass connecting Ulrichen and Airolo: From Ulrichen, climbing roughly 1,130 m over 13.7 km to 2,482 m, it’s a demanding climb and one of Switzerland’s highest paved passes. Though less dramatic than its neighbours, it offers wide‑open views and a satisfying sense of scale.
2,474 m, Timmelsjoch / Passo del Rombo, Austria / Italy, pass connecting Ötz in Tyrol and St. Leonhard in Passeier: A lesser known giant of a pass connecting Austria and Italy. The Italian side is a longer and demanding climb with 1,800m elevation gain which put the Passo Rombo in the top tier of mountain passes. The Austrian side is a shorter and more varied road but equally as phantastic. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,469 m, Great St Bernard Pass, Switzerland / Italy, pass connecting Martigny (Valais) and Aosta (Aosta Valley): The Great St Bernard Pass is probably one of the oldest passes in the Alps, first paved by the Romans. While the main road can be busy either side, taking the quieter route from Aosta on the opposite side of the valley offers a far more peaceful ride. The climb is long, at around 40 km, and gains just over 2,000 m of elevation.
2,454 m, Col de la Moutière, France, pass from Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage: Very remote pass road just underneath of the Cime de la Bonette in the Mercantour national park. A remote, unknown and little used strip of tarmac that winds itself through the Mercantour national park and rewards the rider with near total solitude in fabulous surroundings. There is no sign at the pass height but only an old bunker indicates you have arrived.
2,429 m, Furkapass, Switzerland, pass connecting Gletsch (Valais) and Realp (Canton of Uri): From Realp, the road is passing the iconic viewpoint made famous in the James Bond film Goldfinger. Just below the pass sits the Belvedere Hotel, perched dramatically on a switchback and used to offer views of the Rhône Glacier. From the top of the Furka, the panorama is classic high Alps: ice fields, sheer cliffs, and the distinctive grey granite that defines the region
2,405 m, Col du Granon, France, dead end from Saint Chaffrey: A quiet road just off Briancon and in the middle of mountain pass superlatives of the Galibier and Izoard. At 11.2km length and a 9.2% average gradient, climbing the 1,037 elevation gain of the Col du Granon is a serious undertaking. But this tiny strip of tarmac is truly mesmerising and rewards with a superbe view over the Serre Chevalier mountains and with a rustic little restaurant at the top.
2,369 m, Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, Austria, dead end road from Heiligenblut: and alternatively from Fusch: Cycling up Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe is a long, steady ascent on the Großglockner High Alpine Road, defined by smooth gradients, growing altitude, and increasingly dramatic scenery. As forest gives way to open rock and glaciers, finishing at a high, exposed viewpoint overlooking the Pasterze Glacier and the Großglockner massif
2,361 m, Col d'Izoard, France, pass connecting Briançon, and Guil, Queyras, Guillestre: French cycling royalty, the Col d'Izoard is one of the most famous mountain roads in the French Alps. From the southern side, the road traverses the famous Casse Deserte - a moonscape like section of the road. Totally fabulous. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,350 m, Col de la Lombarde / Colle della Lombarda, France / Italy, pass connecting Isola, via Isola 2000 and Vinadio: This should be ridden from the Italian side. The southern Piedmontese alps are remote and not very developed (compared which the French side which boasts a ski resort just below the pass). The Italian pass road is less traveled and totally enchanting. It is on my bucket list!
2,350 m, Val Thorens, France, dead end from Moûtiers: On the list here as this as this is a prime example of a road built entirely for a ski station where nothing was before. Out of all the ski resort roads, this is probably one of the more famous and well travelled.
2,340 m, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Italy, dead end from Misurina: One rides this road purely to marvel at the Tre Cime mountains. Three massive cliffs, lined up next to each other, utterly mesmerising. No effort is too tough for this unique site and this road certainly demands a fair effort in return for unveiling those views.
2,327 m, Berninapass / Passo del Bernina, Switzerland, pass, Celerina and Tirano
2,326 m, Col de la Cayolle, France, pass connecting Barcelonnette and Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes: The Col de la Cayolle is a magnificent high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 2,326 meters and situated at the western edge of the Mercantour National Park. The road is famed for its spectacular, narrow stretches, including the dramatic Gorges du Bachelard on the northern side, and is celebrated by cyclists for its remote tranquility, breathtaking alpine scenery. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,311 m, Albulapass (Pass d'Alvra), Switzerland, pass connecting Tiefencastel, via Bergün and La Punt (Engadin): There’s a quiet grandeur to the pass — helped by relatively light traffic and the sight of the Rhaetian Railway threading through the valley below. Reaching the summit feels calm and satisfying rather than dramatic: a high, windswept plateau where the air is thin, the light is sharp, and the mountains seem to stretch endlessly in every direction.
2,311 m, Lago del Narèt, Switzerland, dead end from Fusio in Ticino: The road rises high above the Val Bavona in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, climbing steadily on a narrow ribbon of tarmac that twists through forests before opening into stark, rocky alpine terrain. The final kilometres feel almost lunar — granite, water, and sky dominating the landscape — until the turquoise reservoir appears, framed by austere peaks.
2,304 m, Col de la Loze, France, pass connecting Courchevel and Meribel: From Meribel, this is a hard and long road. The start to this connecting road in the 3Vallee ski area was as a service road, later expanded to a pass road and recently as a TdF pass which is partly traffic free. If riding in a ski area is your thing, this is your pass.
2,284 m, Colle di Sampeyre, Italy, pass connecting Sampeyre and Stroppo / Elva: Located in the southern Piedmontese Alps, this is the little sibling of the Colle Fauniera both in terms of height and difficulty. The landscape is somewhat more open than the Fauniera but the remoteness is similar. The village of Elva is a lovely destination coming from Sampeyre.
2,284 m, Julierpass (Pass da Güglia), Switzerland, pass connecting Silvaplana and Tiefencastel: The road is wide and impeccably engineered, climbing in long, sweeping curves that make you feel exposed to the vast alpine landscape. The gradients are steady rather than savage, but the altitude and openness give the ascent a serious, high-mountain character. Above the tree line, the terrain becomes stark and mineral — rock, water, and sky dominating the view — with the road carving a clear line toward the summit.
2,252 m, Col du Sanetsch, Switzerland, pass / dead end from Pont-de-la-Morge (or Sion): Tough, gorgeous and remote road to the Col du Sanetsch (2247m) and then a further 4 km to the Lac de Sanetsch (2034m) - a reservoir lake - where the road ends.
From Sion the climb is 25.7km long and covers 1818m altitude gain. It is tough and irregular and in the SHC category.
Between 2000m and 2250m
This is the lower end of the high passes, quite some of these passes are historical connectors and have been used for a long time, e.g. many pass roads in Switzerland fall into this category.
Pass Height, Name, Country, Type, From/To, Description
2,250 m, Col d'Allos, France, pass connecting Barcelonnette and Colmars: The pass connects the Ubaye Valley to the north with the Verdon Valley to the south. Known for its challenging and narrow road, the Col d'Allos is a celebrated climb in the TdF and is famous for its exceptional, unspoiled scenery within the Mercantour National Park. As a nice touch, the pass is often reserved for cyclists on Friday mornings in the summer.
2,244 m, Passo di Sella / Sellajoch, Italy, pass connecting Val Gherdëina and Canazei: The highest pass on the Sella Ronda which is the circumnavigation of the Piz Boe or Sella mountain and a true wonder of cycling. Click here for a detailed climbing journal of the Sella Ronda.
2,239 m, Passo Pordoi, Italy, pass connecting Canazei and Livinallongo del Col di Lana: From Arabba, the Passo Pordoi winds itself over 9.2km up a very wide meadow covering 642m altitude gain and 33 gorgeous hairpin turns. It is a gentle pass and a steady climb, the wide Valle di Fodom and the neighbouring cliffs of the Sella give it ist special character. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,236 m, Passo di Giau, Italy, pass connecting Cortina d'Ampezzo and Selva di Cadore / Livinallongo del Col di Lana: Cycling the Passo Giau is short, brutal, and breathtaking—a climb that feels carved straight out of the Dolomites. The Passo Giau doesn’t wear you down slowly. It hits hard, demands everything, and rewards you immediately—with one of the most spectacular finishes in the Dolomites. Over 9.8km it climbs 923m from the southern side from Selva di Cadore. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,223 m, Sustenpass, Switzerland, pass connecting Innertkirchen (Canton of Bern) and Wassen (Canton of Uri): Gradients are steady and manageable, allowing you to settle into a rhythm while the scenery grows ever more spectacular. Above the tree line, glaciers and jagged peaks come into view, and the landscape takes on a raw, high-mountain intensity. Tunnels and sweeping hairpins add to the sense of scale. Reaching the summit feels cinematic — surrounded by ice, rock, and vast skies — before a thrilling, flowing descent carries you back down through one of Switzerland’s most beautiful alpine corridors.
2,211 m, Penserjoch / Passo di Pennes, Italy, pass connecting Sterzing/Vipiteno and Bolzano: The main traffic between Sterzing and Bozen goes through the motorway in the Eisacktal valley, leaving this historic pass light with traffic and reall joy to ride. From Sterzing, once you leave the trees behind a vasst bowl opens up ahead with panoramas over the entire adjacent mountain ranges. The descend into the Sarntal Valley to Bozen is as impressive as the climb. Near Bozen are a lot of tunnels though.
2,192 m, Passo di Valparola, Italy, pass connecting Badia and Cortina d'Ampezzo / Andráz, via Passo di Falzarego
2,188 m, Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard, France / Italy, pass road connecting Bourg St Maurice and Pré-Saint-Didier: Rising gradually from Bourg-Saint-Maurice, it winds through open valleys and thinning forest before reaching a calm, expansive high-alpine plateau. With gentle gradients and wide views near the top, just below the summit is an enormous hospice that can be seen all the way from down the valley just after passing La Rosiere. This road is an ancient crossing and might have been the spot Hannibal crossed into Italy with his army. Click here for detailed travel journal.
2,176 m, Colle delle Finestre, Italy, pass connecting Susa Valley and Val Chisone: The climb begins innocently enough on tarmac, winding steadily upward through forested slopes, but it gradually tightens its grip. Gradients are persistent, often steep, and the rhythm is one of steady attrition rather than explosive effort. Near the top, the character changes dramatically as the road turns to gravel. This is one of the most storied ascents in the Alps.
2,164 m, Grimselpass, Switzerland, pass connecting Innertkirchen (Bern) and Gletsch (Valais): The climb rises through forests before breaking into a stark, high-alpine landscape of bare granite, reservoirs, and sweeping hairpins. The gradients are steady and testing rather than extreme, but the scale of the surroundings gives the ascent real weight. Reaching the summit feels elemental and expansive — as if you’ve climbed into a world of rock, water, and sky — followed by a long, exhilarating descent through one of the Alps’ most striking landscapes.
2,133 m, Passo Gardena / Grödnerjoch, Italy, pass connecting Sëlva and Corvara, Part of the Sella Ronda route, at 8.8km it is not too long, with an elevation gain of 594m it is not too exhausting and with an average gradient of 6.7% not too steep so you can enjoy the incredible views while paddling uphill. Click here for a detailed climbing journal of the Sella Ronda.
2,114 m, Splügenpass / Passo dello Spluga, Switzerland / Italy, pass connecting Splügen (Graubünden) and Chiavenna (Lombardy)
2,108 m, Col de Vars, France, pass connecting Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye and Guillestre: Frequently used pass in the TdF but has not been able to carve out a famous reputation. A 20km long road from Guillestre with a couple of shallow sections, the road travels through a number of lovely villages and not so lovely ski stations and is nearly entirely exposed in the open. The mountains are less high and the valley is wide open throughout. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,106 m, Gotthardpass / Passo del San Gottardo, Switzerland, pass connecting Airolo and Göschenen: Taking the pass road instead of the cobbled Tremola road is epic in its own right but...
2,106 m, Gotthardpass / Passo del San Gottardo (via Tremola), Switzerland, pass connecting Motto Bartola and Brüggloch: The Gotthardpass is historic and had great significance over the centuries as a north-south connector. The old Tremolo road is cobbled and follows the historic route. This is the only way to experience this pass. Totally unique.
2,105 m, Passo di Falzarego, Italy, pass connecting Andráz and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Passo Falzarego from Cortina d'Ampezzo is a climb often climbed in combination with Passo Giau. It is a category 2 climb and where the Giau is dramatic, the Falzarego is understated. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,094 m, Jaufenpass / Passo di Monte Giovo, Italy, pass connecting Sterzing/Vipiteno and Sankt Leonhard in Passeier/San Leonardo in Passiria: The Jaufenpass is an important Alpine mountain pass in northern Italy connecting the towns of Sterzing (Vipiteno) and Meran (Merano). The pass has been used since ancient and medieval times for trade and local movement across the Alps. It is popular with tourists and motorbikes but well worth the ride.
2,083 m, Col du Mont Cenis, France / Italy, pass road connecting Lanslebourg and Susa: The Col du Mont Cenis is one of the great historic passes of the Alps. At 2,083 m, it has been used for thousands of years and, unlike many higher Alpine crossings, offered a relatively accessible route between northern Europe and the Italian peninsula. The high surrounding mountains of the Haute Maurienne, the lake at the top of the pass and the extension of the ride to the Col du Petit Mont Cenis make this a great place to visit. Click here for detailed travel journal.
2,067 m, Col de la Croix de Fer, France, pass connecting Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne: The Col de la Croix de Fer has mythical status in cycling terms. It can be climbed three ways - via the Col de Glandon and from St Jean de Maurienne from the north or from Allemond / Bourg d'Oisans form the south. Long and epic, the southern route is certainly the most remote. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,065 m, Passo del San Bernardino, Switzerland, pass connecting Thusis and Bellinzona: The Passo del San Bernadino is a very busy transit route and picking a route that does not use the main pass road is very important. If you stay away from the traffic, this is a fantastic climb, well worth it.
2,058 m, Col du Lautaret, France, pass connecting Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Briançon: The Lautaret is often overlooked as a staging post to the Galibier and as it sits on the main road from Briancon to Bourg d'Oisans. True, it is not the most exciting climb but given its prominence in the Tour and as the Galibier's little sibling, it is very likely that you cross this pass when riding in France. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,057 m, Passo di Fedaia, Italy, pass connecting Canazei and Rocca Pietore: A road of two halves passing at the foot of the mighty Marmolada mountain which is the highest in the Dolomites. A lesser taxing ride from Canazei brings you close to the mountain with superbe panoramics and the climb from Rocca Pietore makes you relive Giro folklore, especially Marco Pantani's attack on the famously steep straight into the mountain. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,049 m, Nockalmstrasse (Eisenthalhöhe, Schiestlscharte), Austria, pass road connecting Kremsbrücke and Unter Winkel: Cycling the Nockalmstraße is a steady, moderate climb through forested valleys and gentle, grassy Alpine peaks of the Nockberge. The road winds smoothly with long curves, offering peaceful scenery, wildlife, and panoramic views, culminating at around 2,040 meters in a calm, high-mountain landscape. The entire road has 52 switchbacks which makes it also popular with the motorised folk.
2,047 m, Passo Manghen, Italy, pass connecting Borgo Valsugana and Molina di Fiemme: Unlike the grand, sweeping highways of some Alpine passes, Manghen is narrow and twisting, climbing through dense forest in tight, rhythmic switchbacks. The gradients are consistently steep, often biting into double digits, and there is little chance to fully relax. As you gain height, the trees thin and the views suddenly open to reveal the wild Lagorai range. Top pass!
2,036 m, Bielerhöhe (Silvretta Hochalpenstraße), Austria, pass connecting Montafon in Vorarlberg and Paznaun in Tirol: The Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse was built to service the two reservoir lakes on route to the Bieler Höhe. The result is a wonderfully flowing road from Partenen in the Montafon. A true gem to ride, especially in the off season when the traffic has died down. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
2,020 m, Zillertaler Höhenstraße (Melchboden), Austria, pass road system with climbs from Hippach and either Zellberg, Aschau im Zillertal, Ried im Zillertal or Kaltenbach: What used to be a track connecting the mountain villages became a steep and somewhat brutal road high above the Zillertal valley. The Zillertaler Höhenstrasse is paved but retains much of that alpine track character and is a tough road to ride, whatever way you chose to ride up.
2,017 m, Kühtaisattel, Austria, pass connecting Ötz and Gries im Sellrain: Cycling the Kühtaisattel is a sustained, no-nonsense alpine climb that rewards persistence more than flair, it is a long, steady climb from the Ötztal that maintains a firm, consistent gradient with few breaks. Rising through forest into open alpine terrain, it’s a serious test of pacing and endurance.
2,006 m, Breuil-Cervinia, Italy, dead end from Châtillon: The last village in this valley used to be Valtournenche before Cervinia was built as a ski station. The first expedition to climb the Matterhorn (or Cervin in Italian) started from Valtournenche and the mountain dominates the valley. The ride to Cervinia brings you as close to the mighty Matterhorn as a road can. Wonderful
2,006 m, Simplonpass / Passo del Sempione, Switzerland, pass connecting Brig, Switzerland and Domodossola, Piedmont: The Simplonpass is included here due to its historic significance as a key pass road over the centuries. It is busy though.
Under 2000m
There are countless roads under 2,000m elevation and many of those are swallowed up in trees reducing the vistas available. These roads are not necessarily easier to climb and gradients can be prohibiting. There are a number of real gems and must ride roads that stand out from the crowd either due to their unique location, cycling heritage, engineering or grand surroundings.
Pass Height, Name, Country, Type, From/To, Description
1,993 m, Passo di San Marco, Italy, pass connecting Morbegno with Olmo al Brembo: Preeminent pass connecting the Valtelina with the Bergamo alps. A wonderful example of the road that starts and ends in a different ecosystem. A really hidden gem of a climb.
1,991 m, Würzjoch/Passo delle Erbe, Italy, pass with multiple ascends: A personal favourite of mine and I think a must ride for anyone. Best to try a number of the five routes to the top which is topped off by a great view of the Peitlerkofel mountain. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,969 m, Cormet de Roselend, France, pass connecting Beaufort and Bourg Saint Maurice: Famous Tour de France pass which is the link between the mountainous run-off towards the Lake Geneva to the north and the cycling heartland of the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys to the south, home of the highest mountain passes, the Col d'Iseran and Col de Galibier. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,966 m, Grosse Scheidegg, Switzerland, pass: Real bucket list ride on a traffic free road past the Eiger and other superlative Swiss mountains. One of the most impressive climbs in Switzerland.
1,959 m, Colle San Carlo, Italy, pass connecting Morgex with La Thuile: This is a famous Aosta climb, offering a tougher alternative route to the Little St Bernhard pass through a hidden forrest in virtual solitude. This road is not to be underestimated but the tranquility makes up for the burning legs.
1,941 m, Torri di Fraele, Italy, dead end from Turri Piano: Italian version of the Lacets de Montvernier, this is a rickety road winding its way up to a couple of medieval towers in 21 switchbacks which come in quick succession. Totally unique ride in a great setting. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,925 m, Col de Glandon, France, pass connecting La Chambre and Bourg d'Oisans: Another Tour favourite both on the men's and women's tour. And you can see why as the road winds itself through and ever bleaker surrounding to the top. The Glandon combines the history of the Tour with absolutely fabulous nature and surrounding. Gradient alert here though. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,909 m, Mont Ventoux, France, pass with multiple ascends: Another Tour favourite and an one of the most iconic and unique mountain. The mountain was formerly wooded but deforestation from the 12th century onwards left it with a white cap as if in permanent snow. Called the giant of the Provence, Mont Ventoux has such a fabled Tour de France history that this is not only a bucket list climb but just a much ride for any cycling fan. The mistral winds make this ride specifically tricky.
1,894 m, Hahntennjoch, Austria, pass connecting Elmen and Imst: Not an obvious contender to be on this list, but I really like riding this pass. There is an industrial feel about this road as it cuts across scree fields along a tight valley. This is also a tough road as they are quite common in Austria. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,887 m, Passo di Croce Domini, Italy, pass connecting Breno with Bagolino: Located in the alpine foothills in the Bergamo Alps, this pass is a real leg breaker. With over 1,600m of climbing, this little known pass offers solitude and wonderful scenery.
1,868 m, Passo Mortirolo, Italy, pass multiple ascends: Legendary Giro d'Italia pass, featuring more frequently as the weather on its bigger brothers, the Gavia and Stelvio is unpredictable in June. It is a leg breaker and the satisfaction of riding the Mortirolo comes from having ridden and conquered it. There some nice passages on the ascend from Tiolo though and the tarmac is generally in good condition. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,840 m, Alpe d'Huez, France, dead end from Bourg d'Oisans: Alpe d'Huez has to be on this list as it is probably the most famous mountain finish in the Tour de France. There is competition for this crown by newcomers like Col de la Loze but Alpe d'Huez is the undisputed heavyweight here. The switchbacks are famous as are the cycling battles that happened on these slopes. The end of the ride is fittingly placed on the finish line of the TdF stage. One dampener is that after all this effort, you will only arrive in a ski resort but maybe the occasion of having completed on of the most famous ascends in world cycling outweighs the lack of dramatic landscape. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,761 m, Furkajoch, Austria, pass connecting Rankweil and Damüls: A great, great, great road. From Rankweil, it climbs steeply out of the Rhine valley before reaching a plateau and ambling through the enchanting Laterns valley before kicking up again for prolonged push to the top that make your legs and lungs burn. Fabulous ride in fabulous surroundings. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,726 m, Monte Grappa, Italy, dead end: Must ride road, whichever of the ten ways up you chose. Its location as the guardian of the Venetian plaines and its history as battleground in the first world war make this place special. Climbing all ten different ascents gives you a "gold pass". The Monte Grappa also features heavily in the Giro. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,703 m, Monte Zoncolan, Italy, pass: Included here due its fame and mythical status in the cycling community. For me, this is a road with silly gradients as there are many in the lower altitude range across the Alps. I suppose conquering the Zoncolan is a special achievement purely to overcome the pain in your legs.
1,689 m, Col de Joux Plane, France, pass, connecting Samoens with Morzine: The route from Samoens is the route used in the Tour de France and is generally considered the more challenging of the two climbs with gradients frequently hitting between 9-11%. The section near La Combe au Fle is particularly steep, this is a climb for cyclists who want a tough, traditional climb.
1,682 m, Hochtannbergpass, Austria, pass connecting Au and Warth: An East-West connecting road through the Lechtaler Mountains. Not too high, not to steep just a lovely road that meanders deep into the Austrian/German border lands. Ideal to combine with other climbs in the region.
1,677m, Col de la Couillole, France, pass connecting Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinee and Valberg: Fabulous southern Alpine pass with typical southern Alpine landscapes. It sits at the border between Southern Alps and the Provence (although I made up this boundary but it feels like a transition point). The pass rides through a gorge with lovely views and fabulous surroundings. Small tunnels, cliff top villages, rickety windy road, and Tour pedigree. 16 amazing kilometres of riding. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,665 m, Colle di San Panthaleone, Italy, pass connecting Chambave with Grand Moulin: Recent introduction of this pass in the Giro have raised its profile. A lovely pass weaving its way out of the Aosta Valley through pastures, vineyards, orchards and forests and offering great views on the valley below and the mountains above.
1,650 m, Monte Bondone Pass, Italy, pass with various ascends: The road begins in Trento and climbs almost immediately. The gradient settles into a steady, testing rhythm—rarely savage, but never generous. Monte Bondone doesn’t rely on spectacle or extreme gradients. Its challenge lies in length, consistency, and the calm persistence it demands—an old-school climb that rewards steady effort and respect for the mountain. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,642 m, Col de Joux, Italy, pass connecting Saint-Vincent with Brusson: Sitting at the entry to the Aosta Valley, this pass is somewhat of shortcut to the adjacent Val d'Ayas with its wonderful Evancon river. Climbing the Col de Joux provides an entry to both valleys.
1,617 m, Monte Baldo/Bocca del Creer, Italy, pass with various ascends: The climb starts from Mori, covers 22.8km, 1,490m of elevation gain and it ends at the Refugio Graziani at 1617m. The Passo San Valentino is en route which featured in the 2025 edition of the Giro. If you do one ride at Lake Garda, this is the one. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1604 m, Col de Turrini, France, pass with multiple ascends: The classic pass in the southern French Alps. The climb from the north is shorter and steeper but with less altitude gain and with 1,100m climbing whereas the southern approach is less steep, longer and climbs 1480m. The scenery either side is spectacular.
1,570 m, Piller Höhe, Austria, pass connecting Prutz and Wenns: There are not that many pass roads in Austria that connect busy valleys and that are simultaneously away from traffic. The traffic between the Reschen and Inntal valleys are taken by much larger roads, leaving cyclists to enjoy this lovely yet demanding climb.
1,438 m, Mottarone, Italy, pass connecting Stresa with Armeno: The Mottarone is in Piedmont but overlooks the Lago Maggiore which is in Lombardy. It provides the most exquisite views over the lakes to both sides: Lago Maggiore and Lago di Orta.
1,174 m, Passo Santa Barbara, Italy, pass connecting Arco and Ronzo Chienis: At 1,057m altitude gain over 13 km and an average gradient of 8.1% which dips frequently into double digits, this climb is tough but super regular. It featured in the Giro due to its toughness and is a ride in solitude through and enchanted forest with the odd view over to Lake Garda. Click here for a detailed climbing journal.
1,026 m, Pfänder Alpe, Austria, dead end road from Lochau: The mountain ride on Lake Constance which offers just the most superb views over the lake, the adjacent Swiss mountains and the Bregenzerwald. A quite demanding climb of the finest order covering 621 m elevation gain.
790 m, Lacets de Montverier, France: Located in the Maurienne valley, this is the original road that goes vertical up the hillside in a number of unbelievable switchbacks. Riding this road is the destination in itself.
758 m, Madonna del Ghisallo, Italy, pass connecting Belagio with Asso: Madonna del Ghisallo is the holy place for all cyclist. A patron of all cyclist and the protector of our sport. A visit is an absolute must if you are in the area.
712 m, Passo San Boldo, Italy, pass: This is just the best pass ever built. It is not very long or high in altitude but it is totally unique. The switchbacks are built through tunnels at either end of the short ramps as the gorge the pass climbs is too tight to accommodate a regular pass road design.
