I rode up Stelvio pass in August of last year as part of the "giro delle dolomiti" stage cyclosportive. The ascension of Stelvio was a hill climb event.
It is a pretty spectacular climb.
The gradient is not that tough, apart from the last couple of miles. It's just verrry looong. Don't even try to count the 48 hairpins and 27km. Just admire the scenery as you get winched further and further above the tree line, and the landscape takes on a surreal feel.
We went up from the town of Prato allo Stelvio, which I think is a little easier than going up from the Bormio side. Whichever side you take, count on spending a very minimum of 1hr 20 to get to the top. (That was the time of the winning rider). I took about 2hrs 15.
The descent is fun - long, and very cold. It can be quite tiring as you try and operate the brakes through shivering arms and keeping your concentration !
As for the other climbs mentioned in that list, the one that I found the most difficult to climb was Galibier (from Valloire). That is a mere 18km from Valloire, but when it's done as part of La Marmotte and you've already done Glandon/Croix de Fer and Telegraph, that morning, life gets a bit soul destroying !!
The coldest descent I experience was the one from col de l'Iseran. I did that last Autumn.
The climb up was beautiful - it was sunny with great views of the ski resorts (Tigne and Val d'Isere) below.
However, once at the 2,770m summit I could barely hang around for a minute I froze.
Even with my 4 layers, 2 hats, longs, overshoes and 2 pairs of gloves I still found the descent a blisteringly cold affair.
I think Messrs Lombari and Munnery will have a few words to say about the Pico Veleta.
Maria
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/
