Passo Pordoi (West side)
Distance: 12.40 km
Elevation Gain: 768 m
Elevation Loss: 4 m
Difficulty:
559 (Moderate)
FIETS Index: 4.91 FIETS
Avg Grade: 6.40 %
Max cat climb: 1
Min elevation: 1457 m
Max elevation: 2226 m
Ride Category:
Climb
The Passo Pordoi, between the Sella group and the Marmolada, carries the Great Dolomite Road from Canazei, in the Val di Fassa in Trentino, to Arabba, in the Veneto, Italy. It is Fausto Coppi’s pass. The Giro d’Italia’s Cima Coppi, the prize for its highest summit, was created in his honour in 1965, and the Pordoi has held it 14 times, more than any other pass. Coppi led over it five times. In 1949 he went clear on the side this ride climbs and crossed the Pordoi, Campolongo and Gardena passes alone. He took the stage in Bolzano and the pink jersey, and went on to win the Giro.
The ride starts at Alba di Canazei and climbs the hairpins of the western side, past the turn for the Passo Sella. All four Giro stage finishes at the pass came up this road. In 1991 Franco Chioccioli, nicknamed ‘il Coppino’ for his likeness to Coppi, attacked on the final climb while wearing the pink jersey, won the stage and went on to win the Giro. The ride finishes at the top, by the memorial to Fausto Coppi.
