The Passo Gavia was immortalized in 1988 when the Giro d'Italia race director decided to keep the race going through a freezing cold blizzard on the climb towards the stage finish in Bormio. Erik Breukink won this epic stage and Andy Hampsten finished ahead of his rivals to win the Giro. It would become one of the most brutal days in recent pro cycling history. La Gazzetta dello Sport ran the headline “The Day the Big Men Cried”.Filmed in very different sunny spring time conditions, though there is a fair amount of snow at the top. This time it's the more scenic type.The ride starts with a valley and some open pastures next to a stream that's full of meltwater. Things get much tougher with some steep sections that will start when you pass the official Passo Gavia sign at about 6km into the ride. Then once out of the treeline, the climb settles down to a steady grind heading to the plateau at the top. There is a dark tunnel in the final part of the climb that's as dark as it actually is in reality. Try to suffer through this and you're into much more rugged terrain with snowbanks and rocks. You can do this!