The Italian sportive Bormio returns on 6-7 June with a new gravel day
Three classic road routes and an official all-inclusive package designed to turn a big mountain challenge into a full weekend away.
La Stelvio Santini has never been just another date on the gran fondo calendar, and the 2026 edition looks set to reinforce that status. The fourteenth running of the event will take place across the weekend of 6-7 June, with organisers positioning it as a broader mountain cycling experience based in Bormio rather than a one-day sufferfest alone.
The headline addition for 2026 is a brand-new gravel event on Saturday 6 June. Riders will be able to choose between 44km and 70km routes, both starting and finishing in Bormio, with courses designed to showcase the tracks and scenery of the Stelvio National Park and the wider Alta Valtellina area. The shorter route packs in 1,400 metres of climbing, while the longer option rises to 2,000 metres, so this is no gentle spin, even with the views.
Sunday 7 June remains the main event, with La Stelvio Santini’s established road programme offering three distances. The long route covers 130km with a hefty 4,270 metres of elevation gain, taking in Rogorbello, Mortirolo, Bormio and the final ascent to the Stelvio. The medium route comes in at 108km and 3,050 metres of climbing, while the short route still serves up a stern test at 64km and 2,280 metres of ascent. All roads, quite literally, lead to the Stelvio Pass.
That spread of options has always been central to the event’s appeal. Organisers say the philosophy remains one of freedom, giving riders the choice to treat the weekend as a personal challenge ridden at their own pace, or to push harder on the timed segments and race the mountain in earnest. It is an approach that helps La Stelvio Santini cater both to ambitious sportive riders and to cyclists who simply want to experience one of the sport’s most revered climbs in an unforgettable setting.
For 2026, that experience is being wrapped into an official package created with the Bormio Tourism Board. The offer includes accommodation in either a hotel or apartment, race entry at a discounted price of €100, and a red front-row start for the event. Riders can also add access to Bormio Terme at a favourable rate, giving the weekend a welcome recovery option after a hard day in the mountains.
It is a smart move, and one that fits the character of Bormio perfectly. Few sportives can offer a finish linked so closely with cycling mythology, yet also place riders in a town so well set up for a proper post-ride reset. By tying together accommodation, entry and wellness options, the organisers are clearly pitching La Stelvio Santini as a complete cycling break where challenge and comfort sit side by side.
There is also a limited women’s promotion tied to International Women’s Day. From 8 to 15 March, female riders can register with a 20 per cent discount, applied automatically when selecting “woman” during the registration process. It is a straightforward incentive, but a useful one for anyone planning an early commitment to next summer’s event.
La Stelvio Santini continues to be organised by US Bormiese and, according to the event information, attracts thousands of cyclists from around the world each year, all drawn by the chance to ride up one of cycling’s great giants. With gravel now joining the programme and the official package smoothing out the logistics, the 2026 edition looks broader, more accessible and arguably more tempting than ever.
Key details
- Event: La Stelvio Santini, 14th edition
- Location: Alta Valtellina, starting from Bormio and finishing on the Stelvio Pass for the road event
- Dates: Gravel on 6 June 2026, road event on 7 June 2026
- Road routes: 130km, 108km, 64km
- Gravel routes: 70km, 44km
- Official package: Accommodation, €100 race entry, front-row start, optional Bormio Terme access
- Website: lastelviosantini.com
