One of our favourite parts of bike racing is watching the pros battle it out up really brutal climbs. So in this video, we thought we’d have a look at 10 of the hardest climbs ridden in professional bike races. Are there any we’ve missed? 👇
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Zoncolan
If you ask most cyclists what the hardest climb in professional cycling is, I’d be pretty confident that the majority would name Monte Zoncolan, and it’s pretty tough to argue otherwise really. Stats wise it’s pretty outrageous, 10.5km with an 11.5% average, which is hard enough as it is, but the final 8km average around 15%!! The tougher side of the Zoncolan from Ovara has featured in the Giro d’Italia 5 times, and the Giro Rosa once, most recently won by Chris Froome and Annemiek Van Vleuten.
Angliru
In terms of European climbs of pro cycling, this is probably the only climb that can challenge the Zoncolan’s claim to be the most brutal climb in pro cycling. The Angliru averages 9.8% for 12.5km, with a maximum gradient of a properly eye-watering 23.5%. We all got the chance to ride the Angliru last year so I can tell you first hand that this climb is outrageously hard. I somehow don’t think we got anywhere close to the KOM holder Roberto Heras’ time up there though, he completed the climb in just 41min 55 secs.
Ventoux
The Giant of Provence has to be one of the most iconic climbs in cycling, but it isn’t here because of the iconic moments that have happened on its slopes, it’s made out the list because it’s just really hard! The climb, from the more commonly ridden Bedoin side, can really be split into three sections. The first 5.5km averages a pretty steady 4.4%, just to warm you up. Then the next 9.5km will really break your legs, averaging over 9%. The final 6km only averages a bit above 7%, but at this point, you’re exposed to the brutal heat and the savage winds that can batter Mont Ventoux!
Koppenberg
If it was a normal, tarmacked road the Koppenberg would be a pretty hard climb. It’s 600m long, averages 11.6% and maxes out at 22%. But the Koppenberg isn’t a normal road. Instead, the road surface is some of the toughest, most slippery cobbles that are raced in the Tour of Flanders. Just making it to the top of the Koppenberg is an achievement in itself, and every year in the Tour of Flanders a number of pros end up walking up most of the climb!
What other climbs do you think should have made the list? Let us know in the comments. 👇
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I don’t know about you, but one of my favourite parts of bike racing is watching the pros battle it out up really brutal climbs. So we thought we’d have a look at 10 of the hardest climbs ridden in professional bike races. Zoncolan If you ask most cyclists what the hardest
Climb in professional cycling is, I’d be pretty confident that the majority would name Monte Zoncolan, and it’s pretty tough to argue otherwise really. Stats wise it’s pretty outrageous, 10.5km with an 11.5% average, which is hard enough as it is, but the final 8km average around 15%!!
The tougher side of the Zoncolan from Ovara has featured in the Giro d’Italia 5 times, and the Giro Rosa once, most recently won by Chris Froome and Annemiek Van Vleuten. Angliru In terms of European climbs of pro cycling
This is probably the only climb that can challenge the Zoncolan’s claim to be the most brutal climb in pro cycling. The Angliru averages 9.8% for 12.5km, with a maximum gradient of a properly eye watering 23.5%.
We all got the chance to ride the Angliru last year, so I can tell you first hand that this climb is outrageously hard. I somehow don’t think we got anywhere close to the KOM holder Roberto Heras’ time up there though, he completed the climb in just 41min 55 secs.
Muro di Sormano The Muro di Sormano featured in Il Lombardia between 1960 and 1962, but in 1962 it was decided the climb was actually too hard to race bikes on! The climb was only restored to the race in 2012, once the road had been completely resurfaced.
Interestingly the road is now painted with quotes and times from riders the 1960s. What about the stats then? Well the Muro is only 1.7km long, but it averages 17.5% and maxes out at 25%! The KOM is currently held by Vincenzo Nibali and Thibaut Pinot with a time of 8min16.
Ventoux The Giant of Provence has to be one of the most iconic climbs in cycling, but it isn’t here because of the iconic moments that have happened on its slopes, it’s made out list because it’s just really hard!
The climb, from the more commonly ridden Bedoin side, can really be split into three sections. The first 5.5km averages a pretty steady 4.4%, just to warm you up. Then the next 9.5km will really break your legs, averaging over 9%.
The final 6km only averages a bit above 7%, but at this point you’re exposed to the brutal heat and the savage winds that can batter Mont Ventoux! Koppenberg If it was a normal, tarmacked road the Koppenberg would be a pretty hard climb. It’s 600m long, averages 11.6% and maxes out at 22%.
But the Koppenberg isn’t a normal road. Instead the road surface is some of the toughest, most slippery cobbles that are raced in the Tour of Flanders. Just making it to the top of the Koppenberg is an achievement in itself, and every year
In the Tour of Flanders a number of pros end up walking up most of the climb! Alto de Letras We’re stepping outside of Europe now with the Alto de Letras. This couldn’t be more different to the short and steep Koppenberg, in terms of distance
The Alto de Letras is just out in a league of its own. The Letras is 80.7km long! Over that distance riders climb 3187m, giving an average of 3.95%, and a maximum of 11%. The Alto de Letras has been raced in the Vuelta a Colombia, and to be honest I just can’t
Imagine how hard that must be in a bike race! Mount Wuling This isn’t a climb that many people will know by name, but you might have heard of the race that climbs Mount Wuling, the Taiwan KOM Challenge.
Without a doubt the Taiwan KOM Challenge is one of the hardest days on a bike you can have, or at least that’s what Simon always says. Over 105km, riders climb 3275m, making it slightly less steep that the Alto de Letras, but this climb is really about the final 8km.
That last 8km AVERAGES 17%, with a maximum gradient of 27.3%. Mortirolo We’re in the Alps now with the Passo Mortirolo, another of the most brutal climbs from the Giro d’Italia. The Mortirolo averages 10.5% for 12.4km with a maximum gradient of 18%.
The Mortirolo has been climbed 10 times in the Giro from the Mazzo di Valtellina side. This includes Contador’s incredible ride on stage 16 of the 2015 Giro, where he punctured at the foot of the climb, chased solo and ended dropping his closest rival, Fabio Aru, before the top.
Plateau de Solaison Another not very well known climb now, but one that really should be on more people’s radar, the Plateau de Solaison. The Solaison has only been raced a couple of times, most famously on the final stage of the 2017 Criterium du Dauphine, where Jakob Fuglsang snatched the win from Richie Porte.
The Solaison averages 9.2% for 11.3km, including two kilometres at over 11% as the road climbs a cliff face up from the tiny village of Thuet. Alto de los Machucos The Alto de los Machucos is steep even by the standards of the Vuelta a Espana.
The average gradient of the Machucos is a bit misleading, averaging 8.7% for 7.2km. But the final kilometre is downhill! At around 2.5km into the climb, the road rears up to 28% and at this point the road is so steep that it isn’t even tarmacked.
Instead, concrete slabs are used to give cars better traction to make it to the top, that’s just bonkers!! There you go, 10 of the hardest climbs in professional cycling, which climbs do you think should have made the list? Let us know in the comments section down below
29 Comments
What other climbs do you think should have made the list? 👇
Stelvio
Little known but a brutal climb near Hamburg, IN. Hilltop Rd is only 1.2k but 100M-400M is at 26% 400-600M at 27%. The remaining portion is limited to 13% and it seems to be a break. My iPhone literally slipped down the hill when I was measuring the 27% with a slope scale app. More than corn in Indiana.
Stilfser Joch ???
For me is bojong koneng
Personally I think Everest is a contender. Pretty chill up there but don't expect to find a Mc Donalds. You never know though, perhaps Dan (now Eurosport) could climb it if you gave him a beer or two.. and if he could clip in….
bruh that is easy lmao here in romania we have some of 2-3km avg 20%
You just have accept the fact that when you climb these kinds of hills you're going to be there a while and just focus on staying within yourself. If you let your heart rate get up to threshold there's no way to recover.
Passo dello Stelvio, Colle delle Finestre and Passo Fedaia from Italy
The Rettenbachferner climb has been in the Tour of Austria a few times. From Solden it's 14.7km at just under 10%, which is hard enough on its own, but the climb starts at an altitude of 1300m and finishes at nearly 2,800m. In other words, it's like a Mortirolo at an altitude of the Stelvio.
lol did Italy pay you guys or something?
So… Instead of including the Muro di Guardiadele, you actually ended up choosing a different, easier climb?
What about Passo dello Stelvio? Might just be the hardest climb in Europe…
The steepest street in the world
check out Punta Veleno on Garda Lake.
What about planche de belle filles in the tdf 2019 with the part where they had to ride on a dirt road?
Haleiakala climb in Maui?!
Nice video as usual. I guess I'm a little late but Punta veleno on the Garda lake east side is even harder than Zocolan but with a much nicer sight on the lake! Check it out if can!
Not sure if it’s been mentioned but the Lagos de Covadonga climb is one to be reckoned with even with today’s compact gearing. This climb was used in the early 80s as well, back when the 42 x 25 was used.
Colle Dell'Agnello from Casteldelfino : altitude : 2744m, 20km at 7.3% but the last 10kms around 10%.
As a beginner, a local climb called east ridge climb is brutal. 2.3km with an average gradient of 10%. And the last 900-800m averages 15% with max gradient of 24%
The zoncolan from ovaro is crazy ,yes crazy ,averages 15.4 for last 8km ! The mortirolo from mazzo imo is harder overall,as there is absolutely no respite ever! It's so hard The 10% parts feel like a recovery..the mortirolo from tovo St agata is much harder with 23% ramps where it joins from famous mazzo route. The stelvio is hard due to altitude, the gavia is a bit like mortirolo,it's a beast.my 2 cents.
Zoncolan ,damn I saw when Froome wins that day ,really terrible
Col du Granon😉
There is an old Tour de France rule: The riders make the race hard. Many Tour de France climbs are harder than the ones shown here simply because the peloton is stronger and more competitive compared to the Giro and Vuelta.
Dolomitenstrasse, Lienz, Austria. 7kms long, 13% average gradient…. Done this some years ago.
Port de larau between Basque and Bearn country in south west France is another hard climb you had to consider ..
Col du granon is much difficult than plateau de solaison. Same distance and grade except to like 2400 m or something
In Europe the Angliru is the most Dificult Climb, without any doubt whatsoever.
Its a Real Torment.