JOUST OF THE ITALIAN GIANTS

Two extraordinary ascents in the Italian Alps, each unique in their character, but there can be only one winner – CW decides

- Simon Warren

Passo dello Stelvio Vs Colle delle Finestre

The second highest pass in the Alps, with its summit lined with snow for pretty much 365 days of the year, there are few roads on the planet that match the Stelvio for sheer in-your-face drama.

It took the Austrian Empire five years to build, and before it hosted bike races, it had huge strategic importance when the border was still in flux. Its inaugural inclusion in the Giro d’Italia came in 1953 and fittingly it was the great Fausto Coppi who reached the summit first. Since that day, the organisers have placed it on the route a further 12 times.

It is, however, always a gamble pitching mortal man against the power and unpredictability of Mother Nature at such high altitude.

In 1965, the stage was shortened by 800 metres due to an avalanche which resulted in riders carrying their bikes over piles of snow like Arctic adventurers.