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The Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, and the Vuelta a España are the three "Grand Tours" of cycling. Among other things, they are known for their impressive high-mountain stages with thousands of spectators and breathtaking mountain scenery. Many cycling fans who have followed Pogačar, Vingegaard and co. on one of these mountain stages then feel the urge to conquer one of these road bike passes themselves. That's why in this blog post, we introduce you to five iconic high-mountain passes in Europe where you can step into the role of professional cyclists and enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery
Top Road Bike Passes in Europe![]()
Stelvio Pass / Passo dello Stelvio – Italy
The Stelvio Pass is known for its 48 hairpin bends and the massive serpentine wall in the upper section. Like most passes, the Stelvio Pass can be ridden from two sides: from Bormio or from Prad. The ascent from Prad is the more well-known and leads to the famous Stelvio photo spot with its seemingly endless switchbacks.
After starting in Vinschgau, one climbs around 1,850 meters in altitude over approximately 25 kilometers until finally reaching the summit at 2,760 meters. From Bormio, the route is a few kilometers shorter and has about 300 meters less in elevation gain. However, with several tunnels and 40 hairpin bends, the ascent is no less varied and demanding.
If you want to ride the Passo dello Stelvio yourself, you should do so on Stelvio Bike Day. On this day, no cars or motorcycles are allowed, so the road belongs exclusively to cyclists. This year, Stelvio Bike Day takes place on August 29, 2026.
Col du Galibier – France
The Col du Galibier is one of the most impressive high mountain passes in the world. At an altitude of 2,642 meters, you can expect a raw, barren landscape with sweeping views of the surrounding glaciers. The northern ascent from Valloire covers approximately 1,240 meters in altitude over 18 kilometers, while the southern ascent is only eight kilometers long and has about 600 meters in elevation gain. However, one must first reach the Col du Lautaret, which extends the southern ascent by 28 kilometers and numerous meters in altitude.
For ambitious climbing specialists, it is worthwhile to also include the twelve-kilometer-long Col du Télégraphe with its approximately 850 meters in altitude before the Galibier. This classic Tour de France mountain combination offers everything a road cyclist's heart desires and rewards with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain landscape.
As with the Stelvio Pass, the Galibier also has a car-free day. This year it takes place on August 4th.
Furka Pass – Switzerland
With the 2,430-meter high Furka Pass, Switzerland also offers one of the most spectacular Alpine passes. It connects Realp in the canton of Uri with Oberwald in Valais. The eastern ascent from Realp, with twelve kilometers and almost 900 meters of altitude, is considered the easier and more consistent option.
However, if you prefer dramatic scenery, you should invest a little more effort and choose the 16-kilometer-long western ascent from Oberwald with its 1,064 meters of altitude. Along the way, you'll also pass the famous road bend from the James Bond film "Goldfinger" and the well-known Hotel Belvédère.
Alternatively, you can ride up from Realp and then descend to the Hotel Belvédère, which is about three kilometers below the summit, to enjoy the highlights and flair of both sides.
Alto de l'Angliru – Spain
Some mountain passes become famous for their views, others for their history. The Alto de l'Angliru is famous because even the best cyclists in the world just try not to stop there. Over a good twelve kilometers, a green Asturian mountain road transforms into a succession of brutal ramps, whose gradient at the Cueña les Cabres reaches more than 23 percent.
The Angliru is not a classic pass, as the road only goes up from one side and no crossing is possible. However, the twelve kilometers and around 1,240 meters of altitude are challenging and have not without reason already led to a decisive outcome in the general classification of the Vuelta a España several times.
Sa Calobra – Spain / Mallorca
If the high mountain and World Tour feeling isn't quite as important to you, and you'd rather experience a scenic highlight, you should ride Sa Calobra in Mallorca instead of Angliru. This famous road first climbs a few meters in altitude to the Coll dels Reis, then descends to the sea bay, and then goes back up the same route.
During peak season, you'll be accompanied by thousands of other cyclists here. The Sa Calobra road is ten kilometers long and overcomes around 680 meters of altitude. Unlike Angliru, it's not too steep, pleasantly rhythmic to ride, and impresses with countless curves and spectacular views of the sea.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road – Austria
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road, as the name suggests, is located at the foot of Austria's highest mountain and connects the towns of Fusch or Ferleiten in Salzburg with Heiligenblut in Carinthia.
From Bruck in Salzburg to the highest point, the Edelweißspitze at 2,571 meters, you cover 29 kilometers and about 1,800 meters of altitude on the north side. Along the way, you pass through various landscapes: from forests and meadows to open high alpine pastures, barren rock landscapes, and snowfields, everything is here.
The hairpin bends at the end of the ascent are wide and sweeping, spread across extensive mountain slopes. This makes the road appear particularly grand and monumental. However, the Edelweißspitze is not the actual pass summit. The Hochtor or Fuscher Törl is slightly lower at 2,428 meters and connects the two sides, while a separate summit road leads to the Edelweißspitze.
The southern ascent from Heiligenblut is slightly shorter, covering "only" 16 kilometers and about 1,200 meters of altitude. However, it is no less scenic than the northern ascent and is also not as steep as some sections of the northern ascent.
Conclusion
As you can see, the Grand Tour feeling can be experienced not only in France but almost everywhere in Europe. Each country offers cyclists different highlights and exciting routes that demand everything physically while simultaneously delighting with their scenery.
Especially in summer, good preparation for such strenuous mountain stages is key. Both in strong sunlight and during fast descents, eye protection from wind, UV radiation, and foreign objects is essential to reach the destination safely and comfortably.
With the brand-new The SHYFT cycling glasses from NAKED Optics, you not only get glasses that protect you but also ones that truly fit and neither slip nor pinch. Using a face scan, these multisport glasses are adjusted to your face width and then specially manufactured for you using a 3D printer. If you are also looking for a suitable helmet, the DRAFT is the perfect complement.