On July 5, 2026, the Passo Gavia en Passo Mortirolo a total of 4.5 hours closed to car traffic. What a treat! The Gavia and the Mortirolo are car-free during the Granfondo! That means free space on the descent, no campers in the hairpin bends, no stress, just the road for you and your fellow riders. That’s the news surrounding the upcoming edition of the Granfondo Gavia–Mortirolo; a relevant development for anyone who has ever been overtaken by motorized traffic on an Alpine climb.
Organizer Vittorio Mevio of GS Alpi, who has been active in the amateur racing world for over thirty years, calls the extended road closure a “major achievement.” The reason is concrete: average speeds are rising, the difference in level in the peloton is growing, and that makes open descents with mixed traffic increasingly risky.
What you need to know
| Only recently | Route | Closure |
|---|---|---|
| Passo Gavia | S. Apollonia – S. Caterina Valfurva | 07:00 – 11:00 |
| Passo Mortirolo | Tiolo/Monno and Mazzo/Monno | 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Cycling path | Monno – finish | Fully closed |
Note: if you drive outside the window, the downhill section is simply open again for traffic.
The Granfondo itself offers three distances: 141km, 111km and 46km. Registration fees range from €70 (early bird) up to €90, With a “first grid” option for €100.
From race to bike week
The organization is expanding the event. From June 30 to July 5, the Ponte di Legno the home of a complete cycling festival, in collaboration with the Pontedilegno-Tonale Tourist Consortium.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 30 June | Passi Mitici: Vivione (non-competitive, closed roads) |
| July 2nd | Passi Mitici: Salita del Pirata to Montecampione (19km) |
| July 4–5 | Gravel Experience (two-day, wild camping possible) |
| July 5 | Granfondo Gavia & Mortirolo |
You can also climb without a number on your back. Or ride two days of gravel through the Alps, including GPX routes and cable car transport for your bike.
Want to know more about the Gavia and Mortirolo? Ghisallo to Gavia bike route – part 2
Why now?
The background is simple. Organization costs are rising. €40 per participant, Purely for safety reasons, providers and medical services. Subsidies from municipalities have been stagnating for years. After the post-COVID dip in participant numbers, organizers are looking for quality and tourist value, not volume.
Mortirolo remains Mortirolo. But the context around it changes. Would you pay extra for such a closed-off Alpine week, or is that exactly the point where it becomes “too much”? We would love to hear from you.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.