Epic Italian cycling has a new name this summer, actually two, Duomo-Stelvio.

From sunrise to sunset on 24 July the first edition of this challenging 230 kilometre road event will take riders from world famous Piazza del Duomo in the heart of Milan to the Passo Stelvio summit high the Italian Alps, the most famous Cima Coppi in the world at 2760 metres.

The Duomo-Stelvio route is straight forward – and up: You leave Piazza Duomo aiming (first) towards Monza, then Lecco and continue towards Colico alongside Lake Como.  Once you reach the Adda river, the route follows the Valtellina bike path for 100 beautiful kilometres to the base of Passo Stelvio in Bormio. From there riders start the 21.8 kilometre hairpin filled ascent up 1534 metres to the Stelvio summit.

There are two ways to participate in the event (organized by Team 100.1, dynamic ASD of Milan), individual or relay. In the first case you ride on your own, in the second case you can share the journey with two teammates (of which at least one is a woman). In both cases it is a challenge without any assistance: the organization, in fact, does not provide any service other than a bag-drop at the top of the Stelvio Pass. The price for an epic day is a mere 35 euros; 60 for teams.

PHOTOS © DOUMO-STELVIO

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