In three weeks time this road will close...

[eAyeAddio]

In three weeks time this road will close for the winter.

25 kms and 48 hairpin bends of the "Queen of Roads" - The Stelvio pass.

It's what motorbikes and sportscars are for !

https://binaries.pirelli.com/2023/07/07/092743883-...

[Cold]

eAyeAddio said:

In three weeks time this road will close for the winter.

25 kms and 48 hairpin bends of the "Queen of Roads" - The Stelvio pass.

It's what motorbikes and sportscars are for !

https://binaries.pirelli.com/2023/07/07/092743883-...

And bicycles, and camper vans and delivery vans and over excited middle aged men in an estate car on a family holiday.

[Riley Blue]

I can't see the attraction, there are far better driving or riding roads in the UK. Sure, it's spectacular to look at but to drive? Be honest, are hairpin bends that great a thrill?

[mr pg]

It's stunning to look at, rubbish to drive.

[Soloman Dodd]

My least favourite Alpine pass.

I'd go up again if I were in the area, but I would not make a special trip to visit.

[brillomaster]

yeah other than the buzz of being on the road top gear proclaimed the best in the world, i'd rather be on the Furka pass, Susten pass or San Bernadino pass.

or actually, the A roads north of Ullapool in scotland...

[BikeSausage]

Cold said:

and over excited middle aged men in an estate car.

You should have waved and said hello. The diesel estate made me the best driver on the pass that day.

[AKjr]

I rode from Bormio in Italy to Sevelen in Switzerland via the Stelvio Pass back in July and feel that the most hyped section of the road isn't worth the acclaim; we left our apartment in Bormio fairly early doors but the road was still busy in both directions with cyclists, cars and bikers, I had to drive "like a local" to make good progress on the hairpin sections at some points

The road at both sides of the pass were pretty good IMO and much more enjoyable than the hairpin filled sections that you see on shows like Top Gear, which probably hyped the Pass up and accounts for some of its fame and busy periods,

Gratuitous ten Euro photo that my friend bought and sent to me.

Edited by AKjr on Monday 18th September 17:16

[ScoobyChris]

brillomaster said:

yeah other than the buzz of being on the road top gear proclaimed the best in the world...

Wasn’t it the best until they drove the Transfagaren Highway in Romania? That is pretty epic

Chris

[Steve_H80]

I can only agree with what everyone else is saying. Although it is a 'bucket list' road it's not actually that good to ride either up or down, but it was funny getting overtaken on the way down by clinically insane cyclists

[eric1000]

Just back from a trip doing 22 passes including the Stelvio. Although iconic it rated about half way up the list of favourites. Looks great from the top though.

[eric1000]

Just back from a trip doing 22 passes including the Stelvio. Although iconic it rated about half way up the list of favourites. Looks great from the top though.

[julianm]

Woiuld be a bit of a road trip to get a Riley Stelvio to do one final climb....

[TB404]

eric1000 said:

Just back from a trip doing 22 passes including the Stelvio. Although iconic it rated about half way up the list of favourites. Looks great from the top though.

Can I ask you what are top 5 on your list? Curious

[eric1000]

Fluella
Nuffen
Grimsel
Albula
Oberalp

Reflecting on it, it is clearly fairly subjective, and depends a bit on the conditions when we drove them. However we did at least try and rate them before too many beers had been consumed!

[tr7v8]

Drove up it once a few years ago. Was knackered & unimpressed. Got to the top & the gearbox linkage of the Boxster fell apart. The ride down in a full size recovery truck down to Bormio was as much if not more fun.
Stayed in a lovely hotel in Bormio for 3 days whilst the Box went to OPC Bergamo & got repaired. OPC Bergamo were fantastic. The owner of the hotel we found out rallies a Group 4 911!
Mondial picked up the whole tab apart from our food & drinks inn the hotel & the repair costs of the Boxster. Part was 30 Euro!!!!