Il Ghisallo
The sacred mountain climb close to the picturesque Lake Como has now become synonymous with Italian cycling both through its use in the Giro di Lombardia and occasionally over the years at the Giro d’Italia.
Il Ghisallo is maybe not the feared climb it was when introduced in 1919 to the Giro di Lombardia cycling monument, but it is still a classic climb that evokes memories of great Italian cycling moments.
Italian legends have been made whilst riding this cherished climb, from 5-time Giro winner Alfredo Binda to the enigmatic Paulo Bettini who used Il Ghisallo to launch his winning moves for his two wins in the Giro di Lombardia in 2005 and 2006.
No other climb invokes the senses quite like Il Ghisallo as the leaves turn red and it is truly the perfect cycling climb to ride in the Autumn. The Santuario della Madonna del Ghisallo at the peak of the climb greets and offers refuge to its visitors on two wheels. Be sure to visit the monument to cyclists that lies between the Madonna del Ghisallo chapel and the cycling museum that opened in 2006.