{"id":175065,"date":"2019-08-21T13:11:45","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T13:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=175065"},"modified":"2019-10-11T08:53:25","modified_gmt":"2019-10-11T08:53:25","slug":"cycling-up-that-hill-7-most-majestic-european-climbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2019\/08\/21\/cycling-up-that-hill-7-most-majestic-european-climbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Cycling Up That Hill: 7 Most Majestic European Climbs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some cyclists are drawn to peaks as moths to a neon sign \u2013 and it\u2019s no rocket science why. Besides the pure adrenalin fix and the feeling of smashing one\u2019s limits, the views and scenery are to die for. We\u2019ve compiled the best of the best climbs found on the European turf that can be conquered on a bicycle so you could get inspired to get out and chase those QOM (Queen of the Mountain) or KOM (King of the Mountain) points at Strava.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mont Ventoux, France<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
View of the summit station on Mont Ventoux seen from the western summit road. \u00a9 Profimedia, AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a no-brainer choice, thanks to both the climb\u2019s Tour de France history and stunning difficulty level. Nicknamed the \u201cBeast of Provence\u201d, Mont Ventoux is looming over the Vaucluse region at 1912 metres. Its other name, the \u201cBald Mountain\u201d refers to the limestone moonscape-like scree slopes with no trees and vegetation, which expose you to the unforgiving sun and heat all day long. This climb is best approached with a mix of proper preparation and awe as it\u2019s extreme conditions can have grim consequences \u2013 this is where Tommy Simpson, one of UK\u2019s top cyclists, collapsed and died within metres of finish in 1967 and where Eddy Merckx needed an oxygen mask after winning the stage in the 1970 Tour de France. Especially in summer, the barren white stones reflect heat accompanied by the infamous Mistral winds \u2013 a combination that will make you feel like cycling in a hairdryer.<\/p>\n

Height: 1912 m
\nElevation: 1639 m
\nAverage gradient: 7.6 %
\nLength of ascent: 21.4 km<\/p>\n

Monte Zoncolan, Italy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a slow and mellow afternoon ride\u2026 turn your back on this one. Found in the Carnic Alps, it\u2019s one of the hardest climbs in professional road racing and the organizers of the Giro d\u2019Italia have used it six times so far \u2013 and were even thinking of using it twice in a single race in 2014. Luckily for the riders, the idea got dropped. To keep a suffering rider company, there are panels with Giro d\u2019Italia heroes installed each 500 m. If we put Monte Zoncolan in more numbers, the last eight kilometres average 15 % with the highest pitch at fearsome 22 %. If this doesn\u2019t convince you of the climb\u2019s savageness, maybe the description by Gilberto Simoni who conquered it twice will do the trick: \u201cIt\u2019s like a slow execution; the easiest part of the Zoncolan is harder than the most difficult at the Tour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Height: 1750 m
\nElevation: 1210 m
\nAverage gradient: 11.5 %
\nLength of ascent: 10.5 km<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Monte Zoncolan and the 90th Giro d’Italia. \u00a9 Profimedia, EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pico de Veleta, Spain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Located in the Sierra Nevada range in Andalucia, the mountain is the third highest peak in Spain and also the highest paved road in Europe. It might sound like Tourmalet\u2019s and Ventoux\u2019s less famous cousin but they both pale in comparison with Pico de Veleta\u2019s length and difficulty \u2013 the total altitude you reach during the climb is 2700 m, in other words, twice the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet. If you manage to ignore all the pain, occasional snow, a burning sensation in your lungs, and the thinning oxygen, you\u2019ll be rewarded with an amazing experience and views, including that of the city of Granada.<\/p>\n

Height: 3395 m
\nElevation: 2700 m
\nAverage gradient: 6.5 %
\nLength of ascent: 43 (!) km<\/p>\n

Col du Galibier, France<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When included in the Tour de France, the Col du Galibier always bears a promise of a proper spectacle. Unlike most passes, this one doesn\u2019t start in a wooded area that slowly gets thinner but throws you on stones and boulders straight away. The spectacular view when you reach the 2000m elevation mark is also accompanied with a spectacular illusion \u2013 while the pass appears to be right in front of you, there\u2019s actually another 7.5 km to go and from this point onward, the road snakes up in hairpin bends all the way to the summit.<\/p>\n

Height: 2645 m
\nElevation: 1220 m
\nAverage gradient: 7 %
\nLength of ascent: 17.5 km<\/p>\n

Col du Tourmalet, France<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Alaphilippe after Col du Tourmalet climb. \u00a9 Profimedia, Polaris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Without exaggeration, we could assign the Col du Tourmalet a mythical status as it made its debut in the 1910 Tour de France and was since featured in the race for 83 times. Immediately after its first inclusion in the Tour, it was dubbed the \u201cCircle of Death\u201d and we can\u2019t but feel sympathy for the poor riders who only had two gears and solid steel-frame bikes. As a personal testament to the hardships of the highest pass of the French Pyrenees, Octave Lapize, the 1910 Tour winner whose statue can be found near the summit, is famously known for shouting at some race organizers he met while climbing the Tourmalet: \u201cVous \u00eates des assassins! Oui, des assassins!\u201d Which, indeed, means: \u201cYou are murderers! Yes, murderers!\u201d<\/p>\n

Height: 2115 m
\nElevation: 1404 m
\nAverage gradient: 7.4 %
\nLength of ascent: 19 km<\/p>\n

Sa Calobra, Spain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Found in the paradise island of Mallorca, La Calobra is actually a fishing village located at the base of the Tramuntana mountain range but the name also rubbed off the 682m climb, because that\u2019s where the ascent starts. Officially named the Col de Val Reis, the nickname La Calobra translates as \u201cThe Serpent\u201d, which is extremely fitting, given its 26 hairpin bends and a spiral bridge called the \u201ctie knot\u201d, all running through limestone bedrock. Mallorca\u2019s mild climate is an ideal location for both professional winter training and coffee-racer amateurs and what\u2019s more \u2013 the Sa Calobra is extremely picture-worthy.<\/p>\n

Height: 982 m
\nElevation: 682 m
\nAverage gradient: 7.1 %
\nLength of ascent: 9.4 km<\/p>\n

Passo Gavia, Italy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The pack of cyclists pedal seven kilometres before the Passo di Gavia. \u00a9 Profimedia, EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To best describe the highest mountain pass in the Italian Alps, let\u2019s look at one day the peloton of the Giro 1988 d\u2019Italia rode through it while a snowstorm was raging. By the time the first riders reached the bottom of the last climb, they were nearly frozen and the heavy snow sticking to them made them unrecognizable. Getting to the finish alive became an only goal for most and there were even reports of racers peeing on their fingers to keep them warm. This fateful day was later described as \u201cthe day strong men cried\u201d and is still hailed by some cycling aficionados as the toughest day the pro peloton has ever have to endure on a bike. That\u2019s all you need to know about the Passo Gavia.<\/p>\n

Height: 2621 m
\nElevation: 1363 m
\nAverage gradient: 7.9 %
\nLength of ascent: 17.3 km<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some cyclists are drawn to peaks as moths to a neon sign \u2013 and it\u2019s no rocket science why. Besides […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":175076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[329],"tags":[3404,3318,1490,3400,3403,3401,3402],"global-categories":[3375],"class_list":["post-175065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-road-cycling","tag-best-cycling-climbs","tag-col-du-galibier","tag-mont-ventoux","tag-monte-zoncolan","tag-passo-gavia","tag-pico-de-veleta","tag-sa-calobra","global-categories-superb"],"yoast_head":"\nCycling Up That Hill: 7 Most Majestic European Climbs - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Some cyclists are drawn to peaks as moths to a neon sign \u2013 and it\u2019s no rocket science why. 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