Ghisallo and great cycling simply go hand in hand, and even more at  Il Lombardia.

At the top of the pass stands the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Ghisallo, fittingly proclaimed the Patroness of Cyclists. Right beside it is the Cycling Museum, home to rare and prestigious memorabilia spanning a century of cycling history, as well as the Monument to the Cyclist.

The climb has featured on the route of Il Lombardia every year since 1919, with the sole exception of 1987, following the tragic Milan-Cologne plane crash that occurred in the area just a couple of days before the race. That alone speaks volumes about the importance and the role this legendary ascent has played in the long history of the sport. From a technical point of view, the classic approach from Bellagio is 8.6 km long with an average gradient of 6.2%.

Discover the Ghisallo segment on Strava: