Please help - Davos to Stelvio.

[the_nurse46]

Hello,

heading to Italy in just over a week on the bike for Moto GP. Even though the Stelvio may be a little boring due to hairpin after hairpin it's something we have to do/see once.

We will be heading out from DAVOS then turning off and doing the UMBRAILPASS then heading back up towards Stelvio.

Does this mean we will be taking in the STELVIO going down the mountain or up? May sound daft question but would rather take it easy going downwards!!!

Also is the UMBRAILPASS worth it or is it to much gravel for a bike?

Thanks

[MogulBoy]

If you head from Davos via the Umbrail (from Santa Maria) then you will arrive at the top of the Stelvio Pass and look down on the classic hairpin section..

I did this exact route circa 5 years ago in my Boxster as below.



I recall that the Umbrail pass included several kms of gravel (which began a few kms after joining it from the Santa Maria end) but it was easy to drive on and a bike would have coped no problem.

From memory, the top of the Umbrail pass (as you approach the Stelvio pass from the Swiss side) is really great and worth doing just for itself.

I stopped at the top of the Stelvio pass to have a look down and decided to drive down as far as Trafoi and then retrace my route all the way to Davos. I would say that you have to do the steep/classic bit of the Stelvio in both directtions to really have experienced it but as you might expect, as legendary/memorable as it is, it really is best for its comedy value and you will find that there there are many more enjoyable dirving roads in the area.

I think the Top Gear boys went via Bormio and if you do, you will still arrive at the top of the classic bit and look down...



If you take the alternative Glorenza approach, you will arrive at the bottom of the classic bit and look up at it!

[Janosh]

OP - that's the route I did a few weeks ago, and had no problems going up the gravel

The best riding you'll do will be the Fluala pass or others in the area, so don't worry too much about which way to climb and descend the Stelvio - just pray for good weather!

[the_nurse46]

Mogulboy,

thanks for the help and maps, at least i know bit more now.

Janosh, saw your pics a few weeks ago and thought I had to do it even just for the fact that I have been there then.

End of August over the Alps and Dolomites, hopefully should be good weather!!!