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Swiss Alps mountain landscape
STAGE 01 // SUNDAY, JULY 19 // SWITZERLAND → ITALY

ZERNEZ
— MERANO

128 KILOMETERS
2,400 METERS CLIMBING
3 MAJOR PASSES
2,761 MAX ELEVATION (M)

From the pristine wilderness of Swiss National Park through Ofenpass, then the savage double ascent of Umbrailpass and Passo dello Stelvio — the highest paved pass in the Eastern Alps at 2,761m. The descent into the warm Vinschgau valley ends in elegant Merano.

ROUTE_OVERVIEW

INTO THE
STRATOSPHERE.

Starting in the Engadin valley at Zernez, the route traverses Swiss National Park — the oldest national park in the Alps, established in 1914. Then the road rises relentlessly through Ofenpass before the double blow of Umbrailpass and the legendary Stelvio. The short option (108km, 1,000m climbing) is available for those still finding their legs.

START Zernez, Switzerland
FINISH Merano, Italy
FULL ROUTE 128 km / 2,400 m
SHORT ROUTE 108 km / 1,000 m
COUNTRIES Switzerland → Italy
KEY FEATURE Passo dello Stelvio
CLIMB_DATA

THE
PASSES.

Ofenpass 2,149 M
21.1 km DISTANCE
4% AVG GRADIENT

Through Swiss National Park

Umbrailpass 2,500 M
13.3 km DISTANCE
8.5% AVG GRADIENT
Passo dello Stelvio 2,761 M
3.2 km FROM UMBRAIL
8% AVG GRADIENT
2,761 m SUMMIT ELEVATION

Highest paved pass in the Eastern Alps — reached via continuation from Umbrailpass

STAGE_INTEL

KEY
INTEL.

▲

SWISS NATIONAL PARK

Established in 1914, the oldest national park in the Alps. 170 km² of pristine wilderness in the Engadin valley. No settlements, no agriculture — pure nature.

EST. 1914 // OLDEST IN ALPS
★

STELVIO NATIONAL PARK

Crossing from Switzerland into Italy through one of Europe's largest nature reserves. The Stelvio massif dominates the landscape at every turn.

130,700 HECTARES
⚖

ENGADIN VALLEY

Starting in one of Switzerland's most exclusive valleys — 1,500m elevation, crystal air, and the gateway to the high alpine passes.

1,500M START ELEVATION
DESTINATION_DATA

MERANO.

ELEVATION 320 m
POPULATION 42,000
REGION South Tyrol, Italy
CHARACTER Spa town, mild microclimate

Merano sits at just 320m in the warm Vinschgau valley — a dramatic contrast to the 2,761m Stelvio summit you descended from. A historic spa town in South Tyrol with a mild microclimate that supports palm trees and Mediterranean gardens. The perfect recovery base after the first alpine assault.