Alpe Caldenno / Prati di Gaggio from Berbenno di Valtellina

Alpe Caldenno / Prati di Gaggio from Berbenno di Valtellina is one of cycling's great tests — 14.9km of sustained climbing, gaining 1,404m from base to summit. Averaging 9.5%, the road kicks to 18% at its steepest — a brutal pitch that demands respect. The 40 hairpin bends define this climb — each switchback a landmark, each straight a test of resolve. The road reaches 1,681m — high enough to feel the altitude on tired legs. Located in Lombardy, Italy.