Maloja Pass 1,815m Switzerland ★★★
Ridden...
2006, 2014
Description...
Ridden twice by Passport Tours. First in 2006 when we approached from Lake Como and second in 2014 when we approached from St. Moritz. The pass is very different depending on your approach...
We first rode this in 2006 and it was a fantastic relief after a seeming eternity of slow villages alongside Lake Como. Whilst we had blasted past some Italians on their bikes with their girlfriends on the backs in shorts and bikini tops feeling like real tour pros. We were soon embarrassed as the very same bikers tore passed us up the smooth switchbacks of the pass.
2014 was odd one as coming from St. Moritz you arrive at the summit almost immediately; that’s when the real action starts on the way down with very tight switchbacks stacked at the top on the way down towards Italy, giving way to fast sweeping bends and much better surfaced sweeper with reasonably shallow corners. Towards the bottom of Maloja is the Switzerland/Italy border at Castasegna, this time manned with friendly looking border guards!
2006, 2014
Description...
Ridden twice by Passport Tours. First in 2006 when we approached from Lake Como and second in 2014 when we approached from St. Moritz. The pass is very different depending on your approach...
We first rode this in 2006 and it was a fantastic relief after a seeming eternity of slow villages alongside Lake Como. Whilst we had blasted past some Italians on their bikes with their girlfriends on the backs in shorts and bikini tops feeling like real tour pros. We were soon embarrassed as the very same bikers tore passed us up the smooth switchbacks of the pass.
2014 was odd one as coming from St. Moritz you arrive at the summit almost immediately; that’s when the real action starts on the way down with very tight switchbacks stacked at the top on the way down towards Italy, giving way to fast sweeping bends and much better surfaced sweeper with reasonably shallow corners. Towards the bottom of Maloja is the Switzerland/Italy border at Castasegna, this time manned with friendly looking border guards!