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Video: Mike Cotty & the Col Collective tackle Italy's Passo GaviaMike Cotty on the Passo Gavia

Video: Mike Cotty & the Col Collective tackle Italy's Passo Gavia

Up feared Giro d'Italia climb - and back down the other side...
by John Stevenson
Mon, Mar 16, 2015 10:49
8

The latest video from Mike Cotty and the Col Collective features Italia's Passo Gavia and for those who love a descent as much as a climb there's a full 16-minute film of the descent to Ponte di Legno too.

Over to Mr Cotty:

"Steeped in Italian cycling history the Passo Gavia is one of the most feared and famous climbs in the Giro d’Italia, first used in 1960 and regularly stirring up it’s snowy mischief ever since.

"I got to sample that first-hand back in the (so called) summer of 2009 as I grovelled up its slopes from Bormio during an event called The Race Across The Alps, one of my first forays into the world of endurance road cycling.

"The fact that the day before was idilic and yet just a handful of hours later it was worse than mid-winter is testament to the Gavia’s prowess at being able to throw a tantrum at a moment’s notice.

"So why do I find myself returning so often? Its unpredictability is all part of the draw and if you catch it on a good day I can guarantee the memory of its rugged landscape, unique challenge and the natural beauty of the Lago Bianco (white lake) at the summit will soothe your soul forever.

"Without question a truly inspirational mountain."

Passo Gavia ascent from Bormio

Stats

Start: Bormio
Length: 25.6km
Summit: 2,621m
Valley: 1,217m
Elevation: 1,404m
Max gradient: 11%

The other side

Mike Cotty: "The summit of the Passo Gavia holds some of the most spectacular mountain views you'll ever see. To the north the snow-capped 3,678 metre Punta San Matteo and the Ortler group stand proud, the south is guarded by the Adamello-Presanella alpine range while the 3,223 metre Monte Gavia watches over all that pass.

"The descent to Ponte di Legno is like no other, passing the beautiful Lago Nero (black lake) as you cling to the side of the mountain on a road barely wide enough for a bike let alone other road users, but beware this is not an easy ride.

"Broken tarmac, tunnels, steep gradients twisting this way and that all the way down to the Valle delle Messi mean you have to concentrate and keep your eyes on the road ahead.

"I hope this video helps give an insight into what to expect from the descent of the mighty Gavia and you can enjoy it for what it is — which is absolutely stunning."

Passo Gavia full descent to Ponte di Legno

Stats

Length: 17.3km
Summit: 2,621m
Valley: 1,258m
Elevation drop: 1,363m
Max gradient: 16%

Passo Gavia
Mike Cotty
Giro d'Italia
Col Collective
John Stevenson

John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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8 comments

Avatar
ianrobo | 9 years ago
0 likes

I watched the downhill last night and was scared just watching it.

Always great to see and a few more descents to see would be great !

Avatar
portec | 9 years ago
0 likes

Awesome, and you had great weather for it too. You're a very lucky man! Please keep the videos coming.

Avatar
Colin Peyresourde | 9 years ago
0 likes

Hey Mike: when you were descending did you have to wait for your film crew car? Seems like there was a fair bit of give and take with the traffic.

Also, what time of year was this? Seems like there was little snow. But I assume that April is about as early as you can do this climb.

Avatar
Mike Cotty replied to Colin Peyresourde | 9 years ago
0 likes
Colin Peyresourde wrote:

Hey Mike: when you were descending did you have to wait for your film crew car? Seems like there was a fair bit of give and take with the traffic.

Also, what time of year was this? Seems like there was little snow. But I assume that April is about as early as you can do this climb.

Hi Colin,

Yep, the road is so skinny normally the fastest way down is by bike, especially if you meet a road block with oncoming traffic.

We filmed this right at the start of September last year. It was a great day but definitely cold up there. Notice I was in legwarmers and a full windproof jacket. The Giro is often hit with a lot of snow in May so best to keep a careful eye on the weather.

Ride safe and enjoy!

Mike

Avatar
Colin Peyresourde replied to Mike Cotty | 9 years ago
0 likes
Mike Cotty wrote:
Colin Peyresourde wrote:

Hey Mike: when you were descending did you have to wait for your film crew car? Seems like there was a fair bit of give and take with the traffic.

Also, what time of year was this? Seems like there was little snow. But I assume that April is about as early as you can do this climb.

Hi Colin,

Yep, the road is so skinny normally the fastest way down is by bike, especially if you meet a road block with oncoming traffic.

We filmed this right at the start of September last year. It was a great day but definitely cold up there. Notice I was in legwarmers and a full windproof jacket. The Giro is often hit with a lot of snow in May so best to keep a careful eye on the weather.

Ride safe and enjoy!

Mike

Thanks Mike. Now that I think about when I attempted the Tourmalet and had to change my front wheel for a ski it was at the end of April, beginning of May, and that's not as high.

Love your work. Genius that you get to do this for a living. I may have to copy you with something like 'the Commute Collective'. Top ways to commute around London....its a winner I'm sure.

Avatar
portec replied to Colin Peyresourde | 9 years ago
0 likes
Colin Peyresourde wrote:

Hey Mike: when you were descending did you have to wait for your film crew car? Seems like there was a fair bit of give and take with the traffic.

Also, what time of year was this? Seems like there was little snow. But I assume that April is about as early as you can do this climb.

I'm not sure you'd be able to ride to the top in April. I went there at end of May 2010 and there was a lot of snow on top. The only reason the pass was open was because they ran the snow ploughs over it for the Giro that was due in a few days. The Stelvio was closed at the top. You could get to the top from Bormio but you could not get down the other side. It's dependent on weather conditions but they don't normally open the high passes until end of May at the earliest, except when the Giro passes through.

Avatar
marche | 9 years ago
0 likes

Every year this combo is a must:
Mortirollo, Gavia & Stelvio.
Absolutely love it.

Avatar
marche | 9 years ago
0 likes

Every year this combo is a must:
Mortirollo, Gavia & Stelvio.
Absolutely love it.

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