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Passo Giau

Passo-Giau |Giro d'Italia | Maratona dles Dolomites

Passo Giau 2,236m

The Passo Giau is the 6th climb of the Maratona dles Dolomites and has featured regularly in the Giro d’Italia. The Giau is as steeped in cycling  history as it is viciously steep.

In the Maratona the Passo Giau comes after a lumpy transition from your second ascent of the Passo Campolongo. The Giau is a Hors catégorie climb and quite rightly the one that all Maratona hopefuls fear the most, but it’s worth remembering that you need to leave something in the tank for the Passo Valparola, the final climb of the Maratona.

Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday

Maratona dles Dolomites Course Profile

Maratona dles Dolomites Course Profile

Passo Giau Profile

In the Maratona you will be climbing the Passo Giau on the southern side from Selva di Cadore climbing 922m over 9.9km at a leg busting average gradient of 9.3%. If the Giau Pass stats weren’t intimidating enough this is one climb where the average gradient is a reliable indication of the overall climb, there isn’t much variation away from 9-10% and that make the Passo Giau the mythical beast that it is.

Passo Giau Profile | Maratona dles Dolomites

Passo Giau Profile

Passo Giau Profile:

  • Starting elevation: 1314 m
  • Final elevation: 2236 m
  • Length of ascent: 9.9 km
  • Elevation gain: 922 m
  • Average gradient: 9.3 %
  • Max. gradient: 15 %

Maratona Fact File:

  • Climb 5/6
  • Feed station on Summit
  • Cut off time: Cernadoi at 11:40

Climbing the Passo Giau

What is it like to climb the Passo Giau in the Maratona? Brevet guest Jennifer lets us in on her Passo Giau moment:

I turned right and after a quick descent hit Passo Giau – bang! Straight into a wall. I knew that this climb got to a max of 15% but wow! It felt steeper than the Mortirolo! I remember getting straight into my smallest gear and wishing straight away that I had more. There were heaps of people around me walking already but I am always determined not to let a climb do this to me. I kept trying to remind myself that it was nothing – only about 10km the same as my hometown Mt William that I love to train on. Passo Giau was really beginning to look like Mont Ventoux when I did the Etape – carnage, it was hot and people really looked to be suffering.

Did Jen get up the Giau? Find out in Jen’s Riders Eye View account of the Maratona dles Dolomites.

Passo Giau Descent

The reward for all that climbing is the glorious descent from the Passo Giau into Pocol. Check out the descent in the recon video below and refresh your memory of the route map – because as soon as you reach Pocol you hit the climb to the Passo Valparola straight away!

Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday

Guests on our Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday benefit from our first hand knowledge of cycling in the Dolomites, including our tactics for making that vital Passo Giau cut off time of 11:40 at Cernadoi in order to be allowed to climb the Passo Giau.

If you would like to holiday like a Pro with knowledgable and friendly guides, Brevet Team Car support and guaranteed entry to the Maratona dles Dolomites then book your place on the Maratona starting line today.

Maratona dles Dolomites Cycling Holiday

Maratona dles Dolomites

Brevet guests warming up for the Maratona dles Dolomites on the Passo Campolongo

Maratona dles Dolomites Climbs

Take a closer look at the climbs you will face if you take on the challenge of the Maratona dles Dolomites with Brevet:

Image Credits: Giro d’Italia, Maratona dles Dolomites, Brevet