Dolomites Pass
One summit – three approaches
The Valparola Pass (2,192 m) is located in the Dolomites, connecting the Badia valley in Alto Adige with the Boite valley in Veneto (Belluno).
The summit is very close to that of the Passo Falzarego (2,105m) connecting the Boite valley with the upper Agordino, also in Belluno.
From whichever direction you start — La Villa, Caprile or Cortina — the road eventually tops out at the same high point: Valparola. What changes is how the climb takes shape along the way.
From Caprile and Cortina, this is essentially a Falzarego climb:
- long
- steady
- built around consistent gradients that rarely ask for more than they show
Valparola is simply the last kilometer — a brief continuation beyond the pass, slightly steeper but not a separate climb in its own right.
From La Villa, the structure is different.
The road builds directly toward Valparola, with a more continuous sense of climbing and a clearer finish at the highest point.
That difference between approaches is what defines the route.
It’s a subtle structure, but a distinct one: not two climbs linked together, but a single ascent that takes different shapes depending on where you start.
At the summit of the Falzarego there’s a refuge and a cable car station – the cable car goes up to the Lagazuoi refuge at 2,762 meters.
At the summit of the Valparola is a refuge as well, a small alpine lake – Lake Valparola – and a museum dedicated to “Grande Guerra”, World War I.
Giro d’Italia
The history of either – or both – being included in a Giro stage is obfuscated by the fact that they were not being treated as separate climbs until the mid-1970’s.
However, as far as I could determine, these were the passages:
- The Falzarego has been included 20 times since 1940, lastly in 2026 – this includes stages in which the Valparola was also crossed, but not mentioned
- The Valparola has separate mentions on 8 occasions since 1976
In 1976, despite the Valparola being crossed, the Cima Coppi was awarded to the Falzarego. The following year the Valparola was Cima Coppi, but neither has been since, as the Giau is typically also in a Dolomite stage passing these two.
La Villa
The Valparola ascent from La Villa is 13.7 kilometers long at a modest 5.9% average. But as you can see in the card, there are (false) flat sections and without those, you’re looking at ~8% average.
With 5 kilometers at 8.5%, including one at 9.4% and a total of 2.5 kilometers above 10%, this is far, far from easy.
I did this end twice, in my Giro of 2011 and that of 2015.
Cortina d’Ampezzo
This ascent of the Valparola is shared with the Falzarego. It is 17.1 kilometers at a 5.8% average, or 6.6% without the flat section.
I’ve done this ascent once in full, during my Giro of 2025. From Pocol, I’ve done it in 2011, 2015 and in 2020’s Maratona.
Caprile / Cernadoi
This shared ascent is 20.6 kilometers (5.8%) from Caprile and 10.5 kilometers (6.6%) from Cernadoi.
I’ve only cycled the 10 kilometers from Cernadoi to the summit, never the whole thing from Caprile. That was in my Giro of 2015.
