Dream climbs in the Dolomites: Passo Manghen - Passo Manghen: The pass that made Pantani famous

Who remembers 1999, when Marco Pantani left his opponents standing on the Manghen at the Giro, but was soon disqualified from wearing the pink jersey due to a high haematocrit level? In terms of altitude, the transition between Val di Fiemme and Val Sugana can easily keep up with the pass celebrities on the Sella massif. However, while motorbikes and motorcades can spoil the enjoyment there on beautiful summer days, cyclists can enjoy the mountains largely in solitude on a ride over the Manghen. On the northern ramp, two cars can only fit next to each other at passing places. Otherwise, the road winds narrowly like a towel towards the 2,047 metre high pass.

The hairpin bends live up to their name. Anyone looking for a fly in the ointment could at best criticise the lack of a rocky panorama; the backdrop is more forest green than stone grey. From the top of the pass, however, the view extends far to the north - across the Adige Valley to the main Alpine ridge. There is not much space at the small gap in the pass before the road descends southwards in wide serpentines. There the terrain becomes a little more open, cows graze on the alpine meadows. However, the narrow valleys at Passo Manghen are not easily accessible. Anyone climbing up from the south must be prepared for 1,600 metres of steep ascent! An example for comparison: the dreaded steep Passo di Giau, the toughest ascent in the Dolomites Marathon, has just half the altitude metres. And of the pass prominence around the Sella massif, only the Sella Pass can keep up in terms of metres in altitude - but only if you start down in the Adige Valley.

Downloads:
Pass profile: Italy: Passo Manghen