Muro di Sormano

With less than two kilometres in length, it has an average gradient of 17% but has sections in excess of 25%. When the climb featured in three editions of the Tour of Lombardy in the 1960s, many riders were famously forced to get off and walk.

dangerousroads.org

Alto de l’Angliru gravel loop

Alto de l’Angliru (also known as Gramonal) is one of the most famous mountains passes in the sport, and one of the most demanding: 12.2 kilometers at an incredible 10.2%, grading out at a maximum of 23.5% not far from the top.

Starting at Santa Eulalia, the ascent is 17.7 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.403 meters. The average percentage is 7.9 %. And starting at La Vega, the ascent is 12.55 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.248 meters. The average percentage is 9.9 %. It is arguably one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing, having been climbed the first time in the Vuelta in 1999. The last half of the climb, from the six-kilometre mark to the summit, the average gradient is 13.1%. The steepest part, which has a 23.6% slope, is known as Cueña les Cabres and is located about 3 kilometres from the summit. The climb is no easier from this point, as there are two later ramps at gradients of 18 to 21%.

gravel portions look ok on google satellite view

Dangerousroads.org

Strada Berbenno di Valtellina-Caldenno

Located in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, the climb is just brutal. The maximum slope is 40%. It’s one of the hardest and most epic climbs you can ride on two wheels.

The road is one of the Toughest Bicycle Climbs in the World. It’s asphalted with some concrete parts near the end, so it should be climbed with a mountainbike. Open to traffic throughout the year, may be closed for short periods in winter when the weather is bad. Some parts are extremely narrow, even for an average car. Totally impassable for 2 cars at the same time.

The road runs south-north connecting the villages of Berbenno di Valtellina (at 389m above the sea level) and Caldenno, at 1.811m asl, via 40 hairpin turns. The ascent is 13.5 km long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 1.422 meters. The average gradient is 10.53%.

Dangerousroads.org

Calanques de Piana balcony rd

from DangerousRoads.org 

The road is 11.1 km (6.89 miles) long, running west-east from Piana to D84 road. Be careful, as the road is narrow, sinuous and very busy in summer. As you’ll discover magnificent landscapes, you’ll certainly want to take some pictures. Don’t stop your car in the middle of the road, and don’t park on the roadside. Caution is required when driving on this road, as in parts it's so narrow that cars can only just pass through - but the location is worth it. Due to the fact that Calanches de Piana are so famous this road is flooded by tourists and their vehicles. Even big motorhomes and buses with 40 persons and more try to pass the road even though they are simply too big for this road. This results always in traffic jams because going into reverse is not an option. During the touristic season the village of Porto provides a special service. On both sides of the scenic part of this street there are guides who communicate via radio. Alternating they block the traffic and guide the buses through this tight part of the road by driving a bicycle. Partly there is less than 10 cm left on both sides of the vehicle!

Is the Calanques de Piana worth it?

The drive offers breathtaking views through the cliffs. The road runs through a spectacular landscape of red granite cliffs and spiky outcrops, carved into bizarre shapes by the forces of wind and water. Because they are so attractive, and are now a UNESCO World heritage Site, the Calanches are also very popular and the road can become very busy during the summer months. The D81 road cuts across the creeks for about 2 kms with excellent viewpoints of the famous red granite cliffs and the gulf of Porto. Really magnificent, particularly at sunset. It’s worth the detour, exceptional. This road has not to be missed if you are visiting this region of Corsica! It’s one of the best coastal drives in the world.

EDT Perpignan to st-Jean-de-Fos

From the southern edge of France's Massif Central you'll really start to notice that you're in Southern Europe now. The route touches the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, so it might be a good chance to stop and recharge for a few days.

The weather through this section can be very changeable due to winds coming from the Atlantic coast and being funnelled across to the Mediterranean by the Pyrenees and the mountains to the north. Strong wind and rain is likely, but so are high temperatures in the summer months.

You'll get you first views of the high, snow covered peaks of the Pyrenees here. There's some great trails in the hills close to the coast: steep terrain, rough tracks and sometimes vague trails, lead to some more traffic-free riding before the city of Perpignan.