Stelvio Pass is the highest paved mountain pass traditionally featured on the Giro d’Italia route.
The pass rises to 2,757 metres above sea level in the Italian Alps, linking Bormio with Prato in South Tyrol. Its famous northern approach contains 48 numbered hairpin bends, making it one of the most recognizable climbs in European cycling.
Stelvio has appeared repeatedly in the Giro d’Italia and is often called the Cima Coppi when it is the race’s highest point. The title commemorates Fausto Coppi and is awarded to the highest summit reached in a particular Giro edition.
Weather can make the pass difficult to use. Snow and freezing conditions have forced the Giro to alter or cancel stages, so Stelvio is not included every year. The nearby Gavia Pass, also a major Giro climb, is lower at its summit despite its similarly dramatic reputation.