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Forcella Lavardet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.547m (5,075ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Italian region of Veneto. The climb features 14 sharp hairpin turns that seem to lie on one another, gradually climbing up to the top of the pass.
The road to the summit is mostly unpaved, with some paved sections at the northern part. It’s called Strada Provinciale 465 della Forcella Lavardet e di Valle San Canciano 465 (SP465) and runs north-south from Campolongo, a small village, towards the paved Strada Statale 465 Road. It’s an old military road.
The road is closed to vehicles after some streams and detachments (since October 1993), but it is passable by bike or walking. The flood of October 1993 made the road, which had already been in precarious conditions for some time, definitively impassable. It features some very narrow parts and scary wooden bridges. Some years ago, the road was impassable after heavy rains, but now there’s a new wooden bridge to cross the river Frison, a section which was impossible to cross during several months every year.
It was nicknamed ‘the most absurd state road in Italy’. Tucked away in the Seppada zone within the Carnic Alps, the road is famous because its group of 14 steep, picturesque and spectacular hairpin bends, between San Pietro and the peak. Remember the road features a high risk of landslides. The road is pretty steep, hitting a 13% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at Campolongo, the ascent is 10.4km (6.46 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 599 meters. The average gradient is 5.75%. The road is pretty narrow, so it is advice to drive slow in the bends, as you will not see oncoming traffic.
dangerousroads.org
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 (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
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
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.
Made in the Cotswolds. Published by Éditions Système D Ltd.
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