Passo di Costalunga from Vigo di Fassa

Passo di Costalunga from Vigo di Fassa

The Passo di Costalunga goes by three names: Costalunga in Italian, Karerpass in German and Jouf de Ciareja in Ladin, the language of the Val di Fassa. It links the Fassa valley in Trentino with South Tyrol, in Italy. Most of the Giro d’Italia’s crossings have come up this side, starting with the first, in 1937, when Gino Bartali led the race over the top.

From Vigo di Fassa the road gains most of its height in the first 6 km, and the last stretch to the pass is nearly level. This is the first climb of the Marcialonga Cycling Craft, the gran fondo that then descends past Lake Carezza and Nova Levante. The ride follows it over the top into South Tyrol and ends on the first bends of the descent, about a kilometre short of the lake.