Passo Pordoi (Arabba)

Start Town	Altitude	Elevation Gain	Length	Gradient	Difficulty	Rating
Arabba	2,239m	570m	10.0 km	5.7%	320	****

Climb Description

Passo Pordoi is one of the most famous cycling climbs in the world having long been a key part of the Giro d'Italia race. Its fame has more to do with its history and its views, rather than its difficulty. Pordoi is a fairly easy ascent, but the scenery is spectacular, particularly from the Arabba side.

As well as being a staple of professiona cycling, the Pordoi is also incredibly popular with cycle tourists. It forms part of the Sella Ronda loop and, due to its length and gradients, it is generaly best included as part of a longer route.

Like many of the passes in the Dolomites, the Pordoi was the location of intense fighting during the First World War. There is a small museum at the top of the climb documenting some aspects of one of the lesser known fronts of the conflict.

Passo Pordoi is best climbed from May to October.

Roads & Traffic

The road surface is in very good condition throughout. There is quite a lot of traffic on the climb in the main holiday season.

But it is nearly all tourist traffic and there are so many hairpin bends that cars move at slow speed and are generally not much of an issue for cyclists.

Alternative Routes

Passo Pordoi can also be climbed from the west, starting in Canazei.

Nearby Climbs

Passo Campolongo

Passo Sella

Passo Fedaia

Passo Giau

Passo Gardena

Passo di Giau

Passo delle Erbe

Passo Costalunga

Cycling Holidays

Passo Pordoi is climbed on our Dolomites & Italian Alps cycling holiday, which crosses Northern Italy from Zoncolan to Mortirolo.

In the links below you can find out more about this and some of the other tours that we run in high mountains.