La Stelvio Santini Adds Gravel to a Weekend Built Around Cycling’s Sacred Giant
There are few names in cycling that carry the same weight as the Stelvio. Its hairpins, altitude and mythology have made it one of the sport’s great reference points, a climb that sits as much in the imagination as it does in the legs. In 2026, La Stelvio Santini will return for its 14th edition with a fresh twist, turning the established road granfondo into a full weekend of riding in the heart of Valtellina.
Scheduled for Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2026, the event will introduce the first Stelvio Santini Gravel ride alongside its traditional road programme. It is a significant expansion for an event already regarded as one of the standout dates on the amateur cycling calendar, with organisers keeping the focus on what has long defined La Stelvio Santini: enjoyment, safety and the chance to experience the roads and landscapes of Alta Valtellina by bike.
The new gravel event takes place on Saturday 6 June, starting and finishing in Bormio. Riders can choose between two routes: a 70km long course with 2,000m of climbing, or a shorter 44km option with 1,400m of elevation gain. Organised in collaboration with 3T, the gravel debut will also feature riders from Team Reverb and the Reverb community from Bergamo, adding another layer of character to the opening day.
Sunday remains the domain of the road event, with three routes heading from Bormio towards the Stelvio Pass. The long route covers 130km and 4,270m of climbing, taking in Rogorbello, the Mortirolo, Bormio and the final ascent to the Stelvio. The medium route measures 108km with 3,050m of elevation gain, while the short route offers 64km and 2,280m of climbing. As in previous editions, the event will use timed climbing sections to decide the rankings, preserving the granfondo’s competitive edge while keeping the broader ride experience central.
Interest is already strong. With entries nearing their close, 1,267 participants have confirmed, including 139 women. Of those, 172 riders are set to line up for the inaugural gravel event, while nearly 1,200 are expected for Sunday’s road ride. The weekend format has also encouraged a notable crossover, with 83 cyclists signed up for the combined gravel and road option.
La Stelvio Santini’s international pull is clear. Riders from 42 countries are due to attend, with Italy leading the numbers on 393 participants, followed by Germany with 147, Switzerland with 93, the United Kingdom with 81 and the Netherlands with 78. Entrants are also travelling from further afield, including India, Colombia and Australia, underlining the global fascination with the Stelvio and the wider Valtellina region.
For 2026, the event will also have a new centre of gravity. The Village and Expo Area will be based at the Bormio Sports Center, renovated following the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. This will serve as the hub for number collection, race packs and the official Santini jersey, which must be worn during Sunday’s road event. The village will also host sponsor stands, technical corners from partners and refreshment areas for riders and accompanying guests.
The schedule is designed to make the weekend feel like more than a single day in the saddle. The Village and Expo Area opens on Friday 5 June from 3pm to 7pm, then again on Saturday from 8am to 7pm. The gravel awards ceremony will be held at 5pm on Saturday, followed by the road event briefing at 5.30pm. Sunday’s road awards ceremony is scheduled for 4pm.
What makes La Stelvio Santini compelling is not simply the scale of the climbs, although they are formidable. It is the sense of place. Bormio, Alta Valtellina and the Stelvio provide the sort of setting that turns an amateur event into a pilgrimage, particularly for riders who have long dreamt of testing themselves on one of Europe’s most celebrated mountain roads. The arrival of gravel broadens that invitation, offering a different rhythm and a deeper way into the terrain before the road riders take on the classic ascent.
Entries remain open until Saturday 30 May through the official event website, with organisers inviting riders to secure their place for a weekend shaped by climbing, scenery and the enduring pull of the Stelvio.
