Madonna del Ghisallo from Bellagio: a steep start, a false flat, and the cyclists' chapel

The Madonna del Ghisallo is a small chapel at the top of a hill above Lake Como, and it is the spiritual home of cycling. Its Madonna is the patron saint of cyclists, a museum of the sport stands beside it, and the road up to it from Bellagio has been part of Il Lombardia for over a century. The climb itself is modest: about 11 km and 520 m of height gain. Its first half is steep and its second half isn't, which changes how you should ride it. Here is how it is built, how to pace it, and what to see at the top.

The climb from Bellagio

The Italian Cycling Federation's road book for a local event gives the climb from Bellagio as 10.7 km and 522 m of height gain, an average of 5.2%, with a maximum of 14% at the mulini del Perlo. Our track on this page starts by the lake in Bellagio and measures 11.5 km and 599 m. Both describe the same shape.

• Bellagio to Civenna: the hard part. The climb starts at the roundabout where the SP41 leaves the lake road. The road book says the hardest section comes straight away, with the 14% maximum. On our track the kilometres from 2 to 7 are all between 6% and 9.6%, with no breaks. This is most of the climb's height gain, packed into about five kilometres.
• Civenna: the false flat. Past the village of Civenna the road flattens and even drops slightly for a couple of kilometres. It is a welcome rest, and it is long enough to cool your legs.
• The last hairpins. After the false flat the road climbs again through the final hairpins to the sanctuary. On our track it is about 1.5 km at 7–9%. Short, but it comes after you have relaxed, so it hurts more than it should.

How to ride it

For most riders the Ghisallo is a 30- to 50-minute climb. That is short enough to ride hard, as long as you ride the steep start sensibly.

• Don't sprint the first ramp. The 14% comes when you are fresh and it is tempting to attack it. Ride the first five kilometres at an effort you could hold for 40 minutes; our guide to pacing a climb with power shows how to set it.
• Stand on the steepest bits. On short sections above 10%, a few strokes out of the saddle help. Climbing out of the saddle covers when it pays.
• Keep pedalling at Civenna. Use the false flat to drink and recover, but don't stop pedalling or your legs will feel the final hairpins.
• Finish strong. The last 1.5 km is the place to empty the tank, because the sanctuary is waiting at the top.
• Descend carefully. The road book warns riders not to get carried away by speed at the start of the descent towards Barni on the other side. Descending faster and safer covers the rest.

Why it is the Ghisallo

According to Il Lombardia's organisers, the Ghisallo made its debut in the race on 2 November 1919, when Costante Girardengo crossed the top fifteen minutes ahead of his rivals. It has been on the route almost every year since, missing out only three times. The list of riders who led over the top reads like a history of Italian cycling: Bottecchia, Binda, Bartali, Coppi, then much later Bettini and Nibali. The chapel's bells were rung for the leaders as they passed.

In 1949 Pope Pius XII declared the Madonna del Ghisallo the patron saint of cyclists, after a request from the local parish priest, Don Ermelindo Viganò, supported by riders including Coppi and Bartali. The sanctuary keeps the bike from Fabio Casartelli's fatal crash. Next to it is the Museo del Ciclismo, created by Fiorenzo Magni in 2006.

When to go, and what to watch for

• The museum. In 2026 the cycling museum was open every day until 1 November, from 9:30 to 17:30. Check its website for the next season before you plan your ride around it.
• The lake road. The shore road towards Bellagio runs through tunnels, and the road book asks riders to use lights and a reflective vest in them. See riding with traffic for the rest.
• Make it a loop. The road book's route continues from the top down to Barni, Lasnigo and Asso, then up the Colma di Sormano. Near Sormano you can take the Muro di Sormano instead: 1.9 km at an average of 14% with a maximum of 22%. From the Colma a technical descent leads to Zelbio and Nesso, and the lake road takes you back to Bellagio.
• Plan the trip. Lake Como has enough climbs for a week; how to plan a cycling trip helps you fit them together.

Ride it in Moveee Indoor

The route on this page is the real road from Bellagio to the sanctuary, with its height at every point. In Moveee Indoor your smart trainer reproduces that gradient as you ride, from the steep first half to the false flat at Civenna and the final hairpins, and the world around you is built from map data of the real place. Because the climb is short, it makes a good hard training ride: ride it at a steady, high effort and watch your time improve over a few weeks.

Your rides are saved with their power data, so you can check whether you paced the first ramp better than last time. It runs in the browser or as the Mac and Windows app. Prefer your own device? Download the GPX above and load it into any app that rides GPX files.

The short version

About 11 km and 520 m from Bellagio to the sanctuary of the patron saint of cyclists. The first half is steep, with a maximum of 14%; then comes a false flat at Civenna and a short, steep finish. Ride the start sensibly, finish hard, and leave time for the chapel and the museum at the top.