Road · Italy
Sella Pass from Canazei
A mountainous 12 km road cycling route from Canazei - Cianacei, with 785 m of climbing over Locomotiva - Lokomotive. Most of it (9 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 11.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 785 m
- Riding time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Canazei - Cianacei
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 785 m
- 12 km
Route description
- Canazei - Cianacei
- Locomotiva - Lokomotive
The route starts in Canazei at 1448 m and begins a 10.5 km climb with an average gradient of 7.5%, reaching a maximum of 17.1%. The total elevation gain is 784 m over the climb. The road ascends to Sella Pass, located at 2233 m. The climbing is mostly concentrated in the first half of the route, with 65% of elevation gain before the halfway point.
The surface is predominantly paved (92%) with about 7% gravel or unpaved sections. The ride is mostly on main roads (78%, 9 km) including stretches on the SS242 and SS48, and a short 1 km section on a road with a cycle lane. There is 1.3 km of path on the route. Amenities near the start in Canazei include cafés such as La Petite and Caffè Antermont, a bakery, supermarket, and fast food. There is no café, shop, or water for 4.9 km between 6.2 and 11.1 km. The route finishes near Hotel Maria Flora bar at Sella Pass.
Along the route, drinking water is available at 0.8 km and toilets around 0.1 km and 4.4 km. There are some attractions close to the road at about 0.1 km, 4.3 km (an old wooden bridge), and at the Sella Pass summit. Peaks near the road include Piz Ciavazes at 2828 m (9 km), and several Sellaturm towers between 9.6 and 10.8 km.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Locomotiva - Lokomotive (10.5 km at 7.5 %).
- Tops out at 2,233 m, 11.1 km in.
Highlights
- Sella Pass at 2233 m
- Piz Ciavazes peak at 2828 m near 9 km
- Old broken wooden bridge at 4.3 km
- Sellaturm towers near 10 km
Along the route
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locomotiva - Lokomotive | 0.6 km | 10.5 km · 784 m · 7.5 % · max 17.1 % | 10.5 km · 784 m · 7.5 % | 2233 m |
Locomotiva - Lokomotive · full ascent, starts at 0.6 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 78% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 78% main road · 11% path · 9% road with cycle lane · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Cycle paths
- 1 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- SS242 (6 km), SS48 (5 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 92% is mapped as paved, 7% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 91% climbing · 4% descending · 5% flat
- Steep sections
- 9 km over 5% · 4.2 km over 8% · 1 km over 10%
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 30 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 9 water points, 1 petrol station and 4 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmFamiglia Cooperativa · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 0 kmParafarmacia · pharmacy · 80 m off route
- 0.1 kmLa Petite · café · 50 m off route
- 0.1 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 0.1 kmEni · petrol station · 130 m off route
- 0.8 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 4.4 kmToilets · 100 m off route
- 4.5 kmPian de Frataces · pub · 60 m off route
- 11.1 kmHotel Maria Flora · bar · on the route
Worth a stop
- 0.1 km — Prezentacja edukacyjna - skały Dolomitów (attraction)
- 4.3 km — Old broken bridge (wooden) (attraction)
- 11.1 km — Sella Pass (attraction, 2240 m)
Stay after this ride
- Passo Sella Mountain Resort · hotel · 460 m from the finish
- Lupo Bianco · hotel · 2.4 km from the finish
- Hotel Laurin · hotel · 3.5 km from the finish
- Hotel Dolomiti Canazei · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish
- Hotel Croce Bianca · hotel · 3.7 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- La Petite (80 m), Caffè Antermont (30 m), Zanoner negozio Canazei (80 m)
- Shops
- Famiglia Cooperativa (90 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Hotel Maria Flora (370 m)
Know before you go
- 4.9 km without café, shop or water from 6.2 km to 11.1 km
- 9 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 7% gravel or unpaved surface
