Passo Gavia Descent to Ponte di Legno (in full) - Cycling Inspiration & Education

The summit of the Passo Gavia holds some of the most spectacular mountain views you'll ever see. To the north the snow-capped 3,678 metre Punta San Matteo and the Ortler group stand proud, the south is guarded by the Adamello-Presanella alpine range while the 3,223 metre Monte Gavia watches over all that pass.
The descent to Ponte di Legno is like no other, passing the beautiful Lago Nero (black lake) as you cling to the side of the mountain on a road barely wide enough for a bike let alone other road users, but beware this is not an easy ride. Broken tarmac, tunnels, steep gradients twisting this way and that all the way down to the Valle delle Messi mean you have to concentrate and keep your eyes on the road ahead. I hope this video helps give an insight into what to expect from the descent of the mighty Gavia and you can enjoy it for what it is.....which is absolutely stunning!
Length: 17.3km
Summit: 2,621m
Valley: 1,258m
Elevation drop: 1,363m
Max gradient: 16%
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Stay well, ride safe and thank you for watching.
Mike Cotty
The Col Collective
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[@catherineverbyla533]

Discovered this video earlier this year whilst looking at Mike's many others. Love every single one of them but must say that this particular video is the most brilliant cycling clip of all. Combination of the scenery, the music and the way the production crew have put it together. Have played it countless times. Cannot wait until this global pandemic is over so that we can journey over from Australia to do this particular ride. Might be 2030 by then but would be great to do it as part of one of your Col Collective tours. Thanks, Mike.

[@ChrisThompson-dh7mv]

I've done the descent twice, and I still keep on watching this video repeatedly. As you say, it's brilliant. It's definitely worth the trip from Aus, so go for it.

[@leedorney]

What a great Descent... super narrow at times ! Brilliant vid. overall

[@fedebjalways]

My biggest dream is to visit Italy, different regions of this country. The Alps and the Dolomites in particular are on the top of my list. I really enjoy these videos to watch the landscape and get more ideas of towns and attractions for my own trip. Really, these are some of the most beautiful videos I've ever seen on You Tube. Thanks a lot! Keep them coming!!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you kindly, so happy you're enjoying our videos. More to come :-)

[@henrycheeyepseng5672]

Thanks for making this. Watched 10+ times. The superhero near the end of tunnel...almost cried.😂🥰.

[@Schlingsi]

Ha, watching descent makes you realise that the 3-4 minutes edits of the climb are a little bit deceiving. :) Watching this I was like WOW, that would have been a long way up! Epic!

[@TheColCollective]

It's a real WOW climb and descent. Absolutely LOVE the Gavia! So, so, good!

[@peterrogers3085]

Climbed and descended this side 2 years ago, it's so tough on the way up, huge sections at 16% that never seem to end, would have got of and walked but for the Haute route riders descending as i climbed, so couldn't loose face, the descent is scary at the top as the road is very bad, more suited to mountain bikes, but once the road improves this is one incredible descent, overall this is one stunning mountain, more remote than you would imagine and should be on anyones bucket list, feel blessed to have riden this the day after Stelvio and Mortirollo.

[@Charles_Bro-son]

3:21 love how the song opens up as you leave the tunnel!

[@Charles_on_the_Line]

amazing! i can't describe how great this video is.

[@jmigueldossantos9497]

!!!Totally espectacular!!! (From Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)

[@seanmcclintock2311]

Love the videos. Thanks for including the descents.

[@kato_dsrdr]

Now this is amazing. The music fits very well.

[@Endorfinjunkie]

Wow, this seems to be a quite challenging descent. Such narrow roads and bad tarmac... Thumbs up for that video!

[@i_just_dont_care_anymore]

Awesome as always mike, that's a beautiful if somewhat scary descent. Very Very tight in places.

[@rik20091]

Poet and philosopher bike. Thanks, my friend. I ended up with tears.

[@MrSzwarz]

The very best of videos and routes! Congratulation for your perfection, dedication, and passion!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much for your appreciation 🙏🏻

[@youtubviorel]

awesome, great video to start the cycling year

[@rik20091]

What visual delight. With the sport we love.

[@Lovecats45]

Incredibly beautiful video! Passed this route last year with my sister and her husband....I was out of breath mainly due to the fantastic scenery and second to my brother in law's driving fast through this narrow, steep mountain pass without barriers haha...but it's just sooooo beautiful!

[@MirceaCretu]

Wow! Thank you for the virtual ride, was amazing.

[@TheColCollective]

Mircea Cretu It's such a good descent. Glad we were able to share with others. Stay well and ride safe. Mike

[@sasan727]

Great video! This is the best descent ever. All the memories come up in my mind when I watch this video...

[@TheColCollective]

Happy to hear it brings back good memories for you! It's such an incredible descent!

[@AdiGaskell]

I rode the Gavia several years ago, and it really is a breathtaking climb. It's a bit wilder than the Stelvio as the road is narrower and you don't get so much traffic, but the views. Oh the views. My memory of it is probably embellished by the Mortirolo, which was done after the descent, and was utterly horrible!

[@karanbohara3973]

I like downhill. LOVE FROM NEPAL.

[@ChasingCornfields]

I love the descents. Maybe more than the climbs but either way, love what you're doing.

[@TheColCollective]

What goes up must come down! It's all part of the ride :-)

[@profrafaeldemenezes7122]

I am proud I climbed through this side two years ago and came down to Bormio

[@richardbrighton3381]

Road surface like most of North Wales!! Thanks for showing this as I will be doing this in July....... Great to see a video of one of your decents too 🙂

[@TheColCollective]

Glad you enjoyed it!!!!

[@leighharrison2566]

Incredible and an inspiration for a novice cycler - can't wait to try this myself !

[@glenorourke2823]

Wow I cant wait to ride this one in a few weeks time. Thanks for the insight and nice tunes.

[@superluvver3]

I'd sell my soul to do this again ! I did it in early june-lots of snow so inspiring ,next time I'll ride up and climb san matteo by foot .great work mike you are brave to go down that side ,the dropoffs are unbelievable ,in fact that's why the tunnel is there as a truck went down in the 50's -I'm going to do the cliff road next time the views would be beyond words.

[@colinstump]

Fabulous. And great music. Good effort Mike!

[@MikeCotty]

Thanks Colin, glad you enjoyed it! M

[@denisfaure-brac2403]

The Gavia looks stunning. Gotta go to the dolomites one of this day!

[@luigibordogna4201]

Gavia is not in the dolomites! Dolomites are in other region

[@_giles]

Just great! Super inspirational.

[@brandondiciocco4956]

love the vids mate I'm addicted to your channel you gotta keep coming out with more descents there amazing and your skills too my god I could never take some of those turns like you did very impressive indeed

[@TheColCollective]

+Brandon Diciocco Cheers Brandon. We've got a host of descending footage too, just need an extra pair of hands to edit it all up. Stay tuned for more :-)

[@ReaperOfSouls83]

just great, emotions at highest level

[@mr.gewehr9862]

The selection of music on this video is absolutely perfect 👌. Really great video. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheIlieDanila]

Guys, you make wonderful videos. Keep up the good work :)

[@TheColCollective]

Ilie Danila As long as everyone keeps watching we'll try and keep making :-)

[@hrvojepuskaric7047]

Maybe the best descent I ever watched. Wish I had something like this in my country.

[@TheColCollective]

Hrvoje Puskaric Glad you enjoyed it Hrvoje. It's without doubt one of the best descents ever in my opinion. Ride safe, Mike

[@kwacker45]

Thanks, fantastic ride

[@TheColCollective]

kwacker45 Glad you enjoyed it, an absolute corker of a descent! Thanks for your support. Mike

[@rahulkota1]

Hahaha...damn what an awesome video... Mike Cotty you really needed someone on another bike to film this behind you, suggestion to The Col Collective :P ... nevertheless awesome video..showed what you really embarked on while climbing...phew...and the scene in the treeline with the yellow car backing ...I thought you might just take him all the way to the bottom ...Super stuff...Keep them coming :)

[@TheColCollective]

Haha! The yellow car was a hero, we gave him a few toots of gratitude ;-) We hear you, another rider would be great, thanks again for your supportive comments.

[@mortenreippuertknudsen3576]

revisting this video in moemory of my July 2014 downhill from Gavia. Best decent in all europe, and pretty scary video.

[@evictorr]

Nice video! I've never ridden down that road, but I rode up it in late June this year, and it was glorious (except for riding uphill with tired legs through that damn unlit tunnel). I'd love to ride up (or down) it again some time...

[@chrisjenkins1]

I would have crashed from looking at the scenery. But it's ok cos I'd already be in heaven

[@iancrichton]

Loving all these video's on "The Col Collective" please keep them coming. Maybe you could do a col de tourmalet from Tarbs one day. That's where I road the climb from a few years back. Keep up the good work...

[@TheColCollective]

Super happy to hear you're enjoying the videos Ian! We've got the western face of the Tourmalet on the list for sure! Stay tuned and ride safe. Mike

[@milazbenecka]

Passo Gavia from Ponte di Legno is the best climb Ive ever done!

[@superluvver3]

I did this from tirano-aprica-it was an epic climb ,words cannot describe how perfect,beautiful,and awe inspiring- it's just you and the mountain,you get out wjhat you put in. There is the refugio bonetta and the madonna for cyclists on the hill at the top ,down to bormio there is the san matteo memorial ,The italians take cycling seriously ! make sure you have lots of clothing on the bormio decent -it is colder than a freezer! lots of history in this rugged landscape and fantastic 60km+ decent to tirano! I would do it in a second .

[@craigabernethie5355]

Thank you Peter, it really is lovely.

[@TheColCollective]

Pietro Bombardieri Amazing, thanks for sharing Pietro! Mike

[@fullhog]

"Eyes on the game, now's not the time to go swimming".. 😂😂

[@1barnet1]

The place of the tunnel at 3 minutes. That's relatively new. The scary Gavia pictures are on a ledge alongside it. The piece of rubble formarly known as mainroad still exists alongside it. And it still downright scares me today 10 years after driving there.

[@jasonmarino1695]

Superb vid and great skills. Did the Gavia last year but op way. It's beautiful, but it's hard. Esp after the Mortirolo

[@giselahaase5399]

Thanks!

[@Yandaman-69]

even the descent gives me inspiration on my tacx.

[@andrewf8414]

That looks terrifying at times. I thought the other side was bad!

[@mortenreippuertknudsen3576]

Nice preview. The decent is on my alpine biketrip in the next two weeks. Hoping for fine weather on august 13th.

[@ptom5020]

:-) I'll be there on 09 August (by car)

[@mortenreippuertknudsen3576]

+ptom5020 - on 27mm tyres and rim brakes it was super scary.

[@hurbit123]

wow. The camara vehicle cannot catch up with you. You are a good rider.

[@concpat]

Great food and wine at 11.35

[@massspike]

I was impressed by the courtesy the motorists showed Mike. The bikers were a different story...you should have had a running counter of all the d-bag moves they pulled e.g. the 2 that passed the car that had stopped to let Mike through.

[@TheColCollective]

Mike Williams Ha! Good spot there Mike. If everyone respected everyone else on the mountain we'd all have a better experience. Easier said than done though!

[@massspike]

The Col Collective The guy parked for a refreshment break on the outside of a hairpin on the pavement that caused your motocamera to come to a complete stop was another winner. Although in fairness your camera guy should have pulled over and waved the car through instead of letting them reverse halfway down the col (and reverse pass another car while doing it). That was in 16 minutes of action.,,I am sure there were some classic video moments during your 1-1/2 hour ascent,

[@MikeCotty]

Mike Williams Oh we've had some comedy classic moments alright! ;-)

[@TheColCollective]

Mike Williams Problem is the road is so narrow there are long sections only wide enough for one car. We were lucky that the yellow car we met had just entered the narrow section so could reverse back easier to let us through. If we'd met further up it would've been a different story for sure. All in a day of fun on the side of a mountain! :-)

[@AstronautAdventureRiders]

Great video! Would also like to see a real time video from rider perspective!

[@TheColCollective]

Chris Kolk Cheers Chris. We've got some ideas for descending videos. Hopefully more goodness coming in Season Two :-)

[@superluvver3]

Its just as awesome on the way up. This is the one.the absolute best,only behind mortirolo in hardness but the views are out of this world You cant capture the totality of it on video.

[@RemoLeb]

byłem tam :)

[@robbertm199108]

I hope you are going to make a video about the Grossglockner and the Kitzbuheler Horn in Austria. Beautiful climbs. Maybe not as famous as the other climbs but believe me, they are worth it!!

[@MikeCotty]

We've hoping to visit Austria for some Col Collective goodness! Thanks for your support!

[@mortenreippuertknudsen3576]

Robbert Mulder I second the Grossglockner - IN MY HUMBLE OPINION from north its the toughest climb in all Europe (and iv'e done a lot of them). I Just came back from a creditcard touring trip with 12kg where i did Griessenpass, Grossglockner, Iselsbergpass, Würtzjoch, Sella Ronde, Jaufenpass, Stelvio, Gavia, Tonale, Campo Compe Mange, and Croce d'Aune (dropped the following from my route due to fatique, bad form, wrong gearing and weather: Staller Sattle, Tre Cime di Laveredo, Valparola, Timmelsjoch, Pillarhohe, Rechenpass, Passo Daone and Monte Grappa) Gavia - one of the most beatyfull climbs there is, its rough and unpolished - even more that Galibier. Did this decent on my tour and it was among the scariest i've ever ridden. The decenter in this video is doing a LOT of braking and keeping your rims cool on this decent is a true challange.

[@juditheneric8811]

Had to rush to get my helmet of the shelve to see this one... pfff it's narrow..... Thxx Mike.

[@TheColCollective]

eric.judith Vugt It certainly is! Narrow with a capital "N"! :-)

[@moybogarin3174]

Song track * Road to Farewell* is nowhere to be found..sure that's that's the name? ~Thanks

[@TheColCollective]

Moy Bogarin Hi, we just checked and it is called Road to Farewell. I can't find the track on any commercial sites (e.g. iTunes) so I'm thinking it may only be available through the non-commercial audio library we have. If we come across it on iTunes or similar we'll be sure to let you know!

[@superluvver3]

Dejans road to farewell look up youtube

[@bob-pq6kd]

Does anyone know if this guy is still around? I remember he said he lost is brother some years back.

[@mrski4945]

The country should invest some money and make the entire road a 2 lane road. But it is beautiful indeed.

[@jgirvin62]

Descended in a vehicle it’s very scary, not for the faint of heart ... or the uninsured

[@archetypex65]

Fucking brill Mike! Beautiful scenery and the roads were just breathtaking. What was the avg speed and what top did you hit...

[@MikeCotty]

Average speed was a bit low as I had to wait for the car behind. On the lower section you can open it up a bit when the road widens, must've hit around 80kph. Great descent but one that definitely needs to be taken with caution.

[@Robert1091995]

Hi Mike, I have been looking at power meters, and wondering if you could recommend any, specifically on a budget, given that I'm only on an 2012 CAAD8, so not a particularly expensive bike?

[@MikeCotty]

Hi Rob, you could check out the Garmin Vector set-up or Stages Cycling power meter as a couple of options. Ride safe, Mike

[@reflectionsdetail]

the road from the summit to the tunnel can best be described as horrid, be careful. have a light for the tunnel, its DARK and has a grade to it. I like to climb this side from Ponte di Legno rather than descend it.

[@vinaybasavaraj4801]

It's not time to go swimming! Lol.

[@hurbit123]

better to put the cam on the bike

[@danial_s]

is this video sped up? an otherwise fantastic descent video just looks unnatural imho.

[@TheColCollective]

+Danial Arif Yep, it's sped up a fraction, basically to try and keep the video engaging while showing the whole descent as it's quite a long one.

[@questpublishing4388]

speeded up

[@user-pl6dw1ff1l]

長げー！

[@Gkuljian]

Beautiful descent. Dreadful sound track. I got off the rollers just to turn it down. Brain rot music.

[@yandelward1634]

🔥🔥 🏁🏁🏁it's a real pleasure to watch🏎️🏎️🏎️ 1:16 ❤💛 👇👇👇💘