| Hidden gem |
| 28 hairpin turns |
| #74 toughest climb of Lombardy |
Monti di Breglia from Menaggio is a climb in the region Lombardy. It is 9.2km long and bridges 847 vertical meters with an average gradient of 9.2%, resulting in a difficulty score of 1004. The top of the ascent is located at 1088 meters above sea level. Climbfinder users shared 2 reviews of this climb and uploaded 5 photos.
Road names: Via per la Grona & Via ai Monti di Breglia
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The profile already makes it clear: you can perfectly divide this slope into two blocks. Up to Breglia, it is already a tough climb with here and there a beautiful view of the three legs of Lake Como. We also pass some nice villages, with here and there even a terrace, but we don't have time for that now.
What follows after Breglia (turn left before the church), is particularly tough fare. Apart from a few hundred metres of gravel road, the climbing percentage never drops below 12 ％. We now cycle mainly through the forest: fortunately, this provides a lot of shade, but it is tough raking to keep from stalling here and there. The 'reward' at the top eventually turns out to be a full car park in the middle of the forest, popular with hikers who then do the last stretch to the Rifuggio on foot.
Making a loop is unfortunately not possible. After resting for a while in the car park, we descend back to Menaggio. Up to Breglia we are very careful, as the steep road is in bad shape here and there and there is some traffic. From Breglia, however, it bobs down nicely on a wide asphalt road.
In the end, it is highly recommended if you are near Menaggio. The most beautiful part is the part up to Breglia, the most challenging part is beyond Breglia, but of course you can choose for yourself whether to add that or not.
Het profiel maakt het reeds duidelijk: je kan deze helling perfect in twee blokken opdelen. Tot in Breglia is het reeds een pittige klim met hier en daar een prachtig uitzicht op de drie benen van het Comomeer. We passeren ook enkele leuke dorpjes, met hier en daar zelfs een terrasje, maar daar hebben we nu geen tijd voor.
Wat volgt na Breglia (links afslaan voor de kerk), is bijzonder stevige kost. Op enkele honderden meters grindweg na, zakt het klimpercentage nergens onder de 12 ％. We fietsen nu vooral door het bos: dat zorgt gelukkig voor heel wat schaduw, maar het is stevig harken om niet stil te vallen hier en daar. De 'beloning' op de top blijkt uiteindelijk een volle parking midden in het bos, populair bij wandelaars die het laatste stuk naar de Rifuggio dan te voet doen.
Een lus maken is helaas niet mogelijk. Na even uitgerust te hebben op de parking, dalen we terug af naar Menaggio. Tot in Breglia heel voorzichtig, want de steile weg ligt er hier en daar slecht bij en er is toch wel wat verkeer. Vanaf Breglia bolt het wel lekker naar beneden op een brede asfaltbaan.
Uiteindelijk toch wel een aanrader als je in de buurt van Menaggio bent. Het mooiste stuk is het deel tot Breglia, het sportief meest uitdagende stuk ligt voorbij Breglia, maar je kan uiteraard zelf kiezen of je dat er nog bij neemt of niet.
A tough but rewarding climb through some stunning towns with amazing views over Lake Como.
I stayed in Breglia for four days on the way to the mountains. This climb was a surprise find and used as prep while training for Stelvio.
The climb starts just around from the biomass exit and rises steadily from Menaggio through a series of small villages. There are lots of hairpin turns and a fair bit of traffic.
About two thirds of the way up the gradient increases. Once you hit Breglia it increases yet again. From here the road surface deteriorates as the gradients get harder. And even though this road is narrow and hard to reach there is a fair bit of traffic (due to a popular walking track that starts at the top where the climb ends).
Just before the last, steep section there is a short section of flat gravel. It doesn’t last long and the road returns to a coarse country road. It is along this next section, before the road returns to the Forrest, that the best views are to be had. If you don’t snap them on the way up, be sure to grab them on the way down.
The climb finishes through a section of Forrest that ends in a gravel car park (no views here, sorry). But you’ll probably just be glad the crazy gradients are over.
| 7 km/h | 01:18:29 |
| 11 km/h | 00:49:57 |
| 15 km/h | 00:36:37 |
| 19 km/h | 00:28:55 |
