From Bormio, take the 13-km sloping route along river Frodolfo up to Santa Caterina Valfurva, the hometown of Italian Olympic alpine skiing gold medallist Deborah Compagnoni and mountaineer Achille Compagnoni, who was the first to reach the K2 summit. Here is where the climb gets tough.

Treglio is situated on the Rhaetian slope at 860 m of altitude. It’s one of Valtellina’s most charming villages, also known as the “land of pizzoccheri”. Teglio has plenty of things to see, such as Palazzo Besta, one of the main Renaissance residences in Lombardy. This historical building is also rich in stüas, fresco cycles, and a frescoed map that treasures a secret. In addition, it houses the Antiquarium Tellinum, a small museum dedicated to Valtellina’s prehistoric civilisation, including the Caven 3 stele, also called mother-goddess. 

In the past few years, the Giro d’Italia has discovered a true gem for cyclists right in the middle of the Alps. Since the 1990s, when the Giro passed here for the first time, the Mortirolo Pass has shown its various aspects and slopes. This pass can be reached from 4 or 5 roads. Marco Pantani’s historical climb from Mazzo in Valtellina features slopes with a 20% gradient and leg-killing hairpin turns. The slope that goes up from the Brescia province is less demanding.