12 Insane Bicycle Climbs Around the World That Will Test Your Limits
Climbing a hill on a bike is often described as pure physical and mental torture, yet it remains the most exhilarating aspect of cycling. It's the ultimate test of endurance, where we watch the pros battle gravity on brutal slopes, and where dedicated amateurs seek to push their own limits.
We know the thrill of seeking out the most demanding roads. After careful research, we've scoured the globe to select some of the very hardest, most epic ascents you can tackle on two wheels. This list contains climbs famous in professional racing lore and those notorious for their sheer statistics. Plan a trip to one of these cycling hotspots and get ready to feel the immense satisfaction of conquering a mountain like a pro!
| Road | Country | Length | Vertical Gain | Avg. Gradient | Max Gradient | Hazards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Washington Auto Road | USA | 7.6 mi (12.2 km) | 1.408m (4,618ft) | 12% | 22% | Wind, cold |
| Alto de Letras | Colombia | 78.9km (49 mi) | 3.220m (10,564ft) | 4% | 11% | Possibly the longest climb in the world. Tops out at 3.679m (12,070ft) above sea level. |
| Hardknott Pass | United Kingdom | 2km (1,2 mi) from Brotherilkled | 299m (980ft) | 15% | 33% | Wind, rain, stray sheep and switchbacks. In the winter months as ice makes the bends treacherous. |
| Passo dello Stelvio | Italy | From Prato, 24.3 km (15 mi) | 1.808m (5,931ft) | 7.4% | 14% | Psychological torture with 48 hairpin bends. The most mythical of the Giro's major climbs. |
| Dante’s View | USA | 64.8km (40,2 mi) | 1.785m (5,856ft) | 4% | 13% | Heat exhaustion and death |
| Khardung La | India | 39km (24,2 mi) | 1.859m (6,099ft) | 5% | Altitude sickness (topping out at 5.359m-17,582ft asl) and army truck drivers | |
| Mont Ventoux | France | From Bédoin, 21.4km (13,2 mi) | 1.611m (5,285ft) | 7.6% | 11% | At its peak wind speeds as high as 320 km/h (200 mph) have been recorded. Heat, duration |
| Paso de Los Libertadores | Chile/Argentina | 25km (15,5 mi) | 1.600m (5,249ft) | 14% | Altitude, trucks, cold | |
| Berbenno di Valtellina-Caldenno | Italy | 13.5km (8.3 mi) | 1.422 m (4,665 ft) | 10.53% | 40% | Cold and 40 hairpin turns. |
| Mauna Kea | USA | 19.3km (11,9mi) | 2.146m (7,040ft) | 11% | 17% | 4.207m (13,803ft) asl at the summit |
| Alto de l’Angliru | Spain | 12.2km (7,5 mi) | 1.266 m (4,154ft) | 10.2% | 23.6% | Even some professional cyclists have refused to climb it |
| Muro di Sormano | Italy | 2km (1,2 mi) | 1.266 m (4,154 ft) | 17% | 25% |