Granfondo San Gottardo

The Granfondo San Gottardo may be less well known in the UK than events like La Marmotte and the Etape du Tour, but its route is surely one of the most spectacular and challenging in Europe.

Starting in the Swiss town of Ambri, riders on the 110km long course tackle three legendary passes in the Swiss Alps: the San Gottardo Pass, the Furka Pass, and the Passo della Novena.

Ambrì: the departure

The granfondo starts from Ambrì and then arrives at Airolo, where the ascent to the San Gottardo Pass begins along the ancient road of the Tremola, with its countless hairpin bends in granite pavé that rise up to reach the altitude of 2106 meters. At the summit of the pass efforts will be rewarded with one of the most striking views of the Swiss Alps. 

The descent after the pass

After a chance to catch breath on the rapid descent towards Andermatt the work starts again with another difficult climb, the road towards the Furka Pass. The highest alpine pass in Switzerland challenges even the most daring cyclists with thrilling hairpin bends and majestic mountains overlooking the Rhone glacier, the ridge of Galenstock and the Bernese Oberland.

The ascent of the Novena

After the descent on Oberwald all efforts are concentrated on the last steep ascent that leads to the Passo della Novena, hard but exciting due the variety of its nature, among which stands the summit of Blinnenhorn, a spectacle that can only be admired from the peak of Step.

Closure in beauty

The road to the finish line is getting shorter and shorter: finally, through the lush meadows of Valle Bedretto and the village of Airolo, you reach the area of ??the Ambrì Aerodrome. 

110 km of hard work, with a vertical drop of 2900m and 40km of climbing, surrounded by breathtaking nature, among magnificent coniferous woods, majestic valleys and imposing peaks, perennially snow-covered.

If you're looking for a challenge that's a little off the beaten path, the Granfondo San Gottardo is well worth a look.