Legendary Climbs in the Monviso Lands – Colle di Sampeyre Stage

A legendary climb on closed roads

The Legendary Climbs in the Monviso Lands are a non-competitive cycle-touring event that, for one day, transforms the great Alpine passes of the Cuneo area into an exclusive territory for cyclists by closing roads to motorized traffic. The Colle di Sampeyre stage is one of the event's iconic climbs: it leads up to the 2,284-meter pass that connects the Varaita Valley and the Maira Valley, in the municipality of Sampeyre, in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont.

The route

Colle di Sampeyre can be tackled from both sides: from the Varaita Valley side, starting from the town of Sampeyre, and from the Maira Valley side, climbing up from Stroppo and the village of Elva along the famous Strada di Elva. It is one of the toughest and most evocative ascents in the Cottian Alps, with long double-digit gradient sections and a panorama that, from the summit, opens up across the entire Alpine arc as far as the Monviso massif, the Stone King.

• Pass altitude: 2,284 meters
• Accessible sides: Varaita Valley (from Sampeyre) and Maira Valley (from Stroppo/Elva)
• Road closed to motorized traffic for the entire duration of the event
• Open to: standard bicycles and pedal-assist e-bikes

A free event open to everyone

Participation is completely free and no mandatory registration is required: simply show up at the meeting point on the day of the climb. Recommended registration allows you to pick up a commemorative sticker for your bike and access photos downloadable from the official website. Helmets are mandatory. The climb is open to both well-trained amateur cyclists and those tackling the mountain with the help of an e-bike.

The Monviso Lands

The initiative is promoted by Terres Monviso, a wide-area strategy that brings together local Mountain Unions and the Municipality of Saluzzo, with technical support from local cycling clubs. The Legendary Climbs are part of a broader calendar involving the Stura, Grana, Maira, Varaita, and Po valleys, in a territory recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Colle di Sampeyre stage celebrates a climb made famous by the feats of Giro d'Italia and Tour de France champions, immersed in an Alpine setting of rare beauty.

Why participate

Tackling Colle di Sampeyre on a closed road is a unique opportunity to experience the mountains on your bike, far from cars and immersed in the nature of the Cottian Alps. Reaching the 2,284-meter pass, with your gaze fixed on Monviso, offers a sense of satisfaction that goes far beyond physical effort: it is a small journey into the history of cycling and the geography of Piedmont.