Climbing Gavia Twice - Epic No-Traffic Day on Italy’s Wildest Pass! Tour De Pasta Stage 7

On the 10th of July 2025, Tour De Pasta rolled into Bormio — and what a perfect day it turned out to be. Thanks to the Enjoy Stelvio initiative, the legendary Passo Gavia was closed to all motor traffic, offering a rare chance to ride one of the Alps’ most iconic climbs in absolute peace. With blue skies overhead and the roads teeming with cyclists, I decided to seize the moment and take on a proper challenge: climbing Gavia twice in one day.

The ride began with a steady climb from Bormio, winding through lush alpine meadows and past the famous thermal baths the town is known for. Once at the summit (2,621 m), I pushed through the nerves and descended toward Ponte di Legno on the south side — a daring stretch known for its steep gradients, exposed ledges, and an unlit tunnel high above 2,000 m that tests even the boldest riders. After a quick breather in Sant’Apollonia, it was time to tackle the ascent once again, this time from the south — a steeper, more dramatic climb. Despite the fatigue, the experience of riding without traffic, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Alps, made for a truly unforgettable day on the bike.

This ride is Stage 7 of my personal 10-stage challenge — the Tour De Pasta, a cycling tour across Northern Italy’s most legendary passes and routes. 🍝🚴
Check out the full playlist here:
👉    • Tour De Pasta 2025  

📍 Strava Ride Log:   / strava  

Stages of Tour De Pasta 2025
✅ Stage 1 – Cittadella
✅ Stage 2 –    • Climbing Cima Grappa to the War Memorial -...  
✅ Stage 3 –    • The Magic of the Dolomites - Clockwise Sel...  
✅ Stage 4 –    • No Legs Left, But the Dolomites Said Go! T...  
✅ Stage 5 –    • Sellaronda Chaos Before the Maratona! Tour...  
✅ Stage 6 –    • Brutal Dolomites Climb - Passo Fedaia & Po...  
✅ Stage 7 –    • Climbing Gavia Twice - Epic No-Traffic Day...  
✅ Stage 8 –    • I Raced Myself Up the Mortirolo from Mazzo...  
✅ Stage 9 – Le Motte (Bormio)
✅ Stage 10 –    • New Personal Best on Stelvio! Re Stelvio M...  

📸 Instagram:   / when_in_doubt_cycle  
📈 Strava:   / strava  
📺 YouTube Channel:    / @paolotagliaferri  

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0:00 - Intro
5:32 - Santa Caterina Valfurva
26:11 - Passo Gavia (x1)
50:51 - Sant'Apollonia
1:21:22 - Passo Gavia (x2)
1:52:58 - Bormio