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Passo Gavia: The Day The Big Men Cried

On June 6, 1988, the day after the 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia, one which crossed the mighty Gavia pass in a snowstorm to finish in Bormio, La Gazzetta dello Sport ran the headline “The Day the Big Men Cried”. Indeed it was. It was “only” a stage of 120 kilometers (75 miles) beginning in Chiesa Valmalenco, descending to the Passo dell’Aprica after 70 km, climbing 650 meters (2000 feet) to the 1181 meter summit (3700 feet) before dropping 480 meters (1500 feet) back into the valley. The next obstacle was the Passo Tonale, a long gradual climb to 1450 meters (4500 meters) that then forked northwards for the Gavia, starting at Ponte de Legno. The Gavia from this side is a staggering 17.3 kilometers long (10.8 miles) and climbs a mind-boggling 1363 meters (4200 feet) to a summit at 2621 meters (8600 feet) while averaging 7.9% grade. On the start line, the riders were met with heavy rain. But the forecast for the mountains was for much worse. At the morning meeting for the team directors, it was reported that it was snowing at the top, but the road was clear. Armed with that information, the 7-Eleven directors ...

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