Davos to Stevio?

JamesL · Post by **JamesL** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:19 pm

I came across the back end of a Top Gear rerun last night, with our heroes pottering ever so slowly and carefully round some rather scenic and apparently deserted alpine roads. Hairpins, fast bends, fabulous views, the lot. They mumbled something about it being the road from "Davos" to "Stevio" in Italy, although MS Autoroute's best guess is 60 miles or so from Davos in Switzerland to a village in a forest called Stevio, in N Italy.

Just idle curiosity really, but does anyone know where this really might be? And is it as good as they claim?

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:40 pm

Rode from Davos to Stelvio last year with Ian, Chris, Peter and Alan. Unfortunatley it was a little wet in places and very windy when we got to the top of the Stelvio pass.

In my honest opinion, there are better passes in the Alps but why not go over and try for youreself, you will not be dissappionted.

Here is a pic of the Stelvio, well some of the 60 switchbacks.

Andrew

stoney · Post by **stoney** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:12 pm

I'll be heading there this year - probably August - can't wait.

Lars1974 · Post by **Lars1974** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:27 pm

i am planning to be there in august too...for 1 week!!!

BockingBandit · Post by **BockingBandit** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:58 pm

Stelvio Pass is like the 'Pass of Cattle' @ Applecross on a Steroid and Viagra Cocktail. It was one of the first 'Destinations' we entered on the route for 'Poor Circulation'. Mention is made of 'Better Passes',.. spill the beans, .... we might spend a few days larking around there.

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:57 pm

yep, i plan to go on a 3 week trip through france into italy and back with stelvio being the main target in june.

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:04 pm

f90x,

Hope it is late June as some passes could still be shut and Stelvio is one of the highest.

Andrew

boxerscott · Post by **boxerscott** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:25 pm

Were off first two weeks in September. Ive bought an italian road Atlas (AA). To be quite honest once you start looking at Northern Italy it all looks great East to West , Alps or Dolomites, Lakes or plains I dont think you can go wrong fingers crossed for good weather. We plan to visit Alba,Asti, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Lucca then back up to pass into Swizz via Gottard gives us choice of tunnel or pass if nature is against us. We have 2 nights on lake near Interlaken to do Jungfrauhjoch bit of liesure round Grindelwald see if we can see climbers on the Eigerwand (or falling off it) or rideout whatever weather permitting. Stelvio is just a tad too east for us on this trip. (Alright for those who can take 3 weeks) Hope you are all looking forward to it as much as we are

snavetrauts · Post by **snavetrauts** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:24 pm

Boxerscott...... did roughly your trip last year...BUT in October... apparently the wettest month in the year for Tuscany..... durrrrghh. Did most of my travelling in the clouds or Cloudbursts..... fantastic scenery however when we could see it.

Lucca was also fantastic. DO NOT.... DO NOT let your partner have your credit card.... expeeeeensive.

Enjoy.

Cheers

stuart

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:39 pm

andrew s wrote:f90x,

Hope it is late June as some passes could still be shut and Stelvio is one of the highest.

Andrew

thanks andrew, i did wonder about that. perhaps i'll leave the 2nd week of june and get there half way through the 3rd week, or maybe just leave in the 3rd week. i don't want to get caught in the snow and i want to do all of it.

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:42 pm

boxerscott wrote:(Alright for those who can take 3 weeks) Hope you are all looking forward to it as much as we are

i'm in the very fortunate position of being self employed and in demand, so as long as i make sure the money is there to pay the mortgage i can disappear for as long as i want

Penfold · Post by **Penfold** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:19 am

f90x wrote:... with stelvio being the main target in june.

"The main target"? I'm getting ready to take shelter here, but what exactly is the attraction of hurtling along a straight pot-holed bit of road for ten seconds and then wobble round an 85' bend in severe danger of being taken-out by some sports car driving lunatic taking-up most of the road travelling in the opposite direction, and then repeat 60 times?
Before you ask; yep, I've tried it in the Pyrenees.
Each to their own I totally accept, but I just don't get it. Give me 'making progress' along roads consisting of long, fast, sweepy bends any day.
Don't worry; I'm obviously an odd-ball. (But I bet I'm not the only one.)

Take cover! Incoming!!
Penf

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:04 am

We stayed in the area around stelvio and Bolzano for approx a week in July and did most of the passes we could find. Stelvio itself was not the best pass however the TOPGEAR guys were raving more about the road from Davos than Stelvio itself. They passed a fair bit of water by the looks of it and the roads they were on did look great and very open in comparison to Stelvio much more fun to be honest.
One of my absolute favourites in the area is Timmlesjoch (excuse spelling). Quicker than Stelvio to some degree and much more flowing.

I'm heading back in July (18th onwards) for a couple of weeks if anyone else fancies a blat round. Last couple of years I've been around Salzburg and accross to Bolzano etc, this time fancy goig a little further West and taking in the Ardeche and maybe Route Naploeon etc plus St Bernard passes

JamesL · Post by **JamesL** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:50 am

Many thanks chaps - really interesting stuff. I haven't been to the area for years, sadly. Last time I took my girlfriend from Friedrichshaven to Venice; Gottard was closed so we went over some other pass and freewheeled 30 miles down the other side. Went up another pass somewhere round Maggiore which (being Italian) they only told you was closed at the top; so rather than a 60 mile detour back, we hacked the R65 through the snowdrifts at the top and straight down the hill for a way on the far side to find the road again... Halcyon days.

Anyway I hope youall have great tips when you go - I expect I'll be watching children surfing in the sleet like last year!

James

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:12 pm

Penfold wrote:
f90x wrote:... with stelvio being the main target in june.
"The main target"? I'm getting ready to take shelter here, but what exactly is the attraction of hurtling along a straight pot-holed bit of road for ten seconds and then wobble round an 85' bend in severe danger of being taken-out by some sports car driving lunatic taking-up most of the road travelling in the opposite direction, and then repeat 60 times?
Before you ask; yep, I've tried it in the Pyrenees.
Each to their own I totally accept, but I just don't get it. Give me 'making progress' along roads consisting of long, fast, sweepy bends any day.
Don't worry; I'm obviously an odd-ball. (But I bet I'm not the only one.)
Take cover! Incoming!!
Penf

I agree with the long sweepers penfold. I just meant that stelvio is our destination. we shall be taking in a lot of bike condusive roads along the way. stelvio is just one of those on the 'to do' list before i get too old.

Steve

www.boxertrix.com

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