Bicycling Abano Pass

RB Road bike recommended / MTB Mountain bike recommended / GB Gravel bike recommended

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New in 2024
	Voras Ski Center NEW	2.074m	RB
	Monte Titano NEW	652m	RB
	Bwlch y Groes NEW	550m	RB
	Bwlch Pen-y-Feidiog NEW	530m	RB
	Dingli Cliffs NEW	245m	MTB
	Vatican Hill NEW	77m	GB

World's highest cyclable roads
	Overview v30 / January 2024

European Alps
	Theodulpass	3,332m	MTB
	Hohtälli	3,286m	MTB
	Col du Jandri	3,150m	MTB
	Hohsaas	3,142m	MTB
	Madritschjoch	3,123m	MTB
	Rothorn	3,103m	MTB
	Gornergrat	3,089m	MTB
	Gaislachkogel	3,040m	MTB
	Ortlerhaus	3,025m	MTB
	Wurmkogel	3,023m	MTB
	Colle Sommeiller	3,009m	MTB
	Festkogel	2,898m	MTB
	Eisjöchl	2,895m	MTB
	Stubai Glacier	2,889m	MTB
	Ötztal Glacier	2,822m	RB
	Cime de la Bonette	2,802m	RB
	Col de l'Iseran	2,770m	RB
	Viderjoch	2,763m	MTB
	Stilfser Joch	2,758m	RB
	Kaunertal Glacier	2,750m	RB
	Colle dell'Agnello	2,744m	RB
	Col du Chaberton	2,674m	MTB
	Gaviapass	2,652m	RB
	Col du Galibier	2,645m	RB
	Colle del Nivolet	2,612m	RB
	Großglockner	2,571m	RB
	Timmelsjoch	2,509m	RB
	Umbrailpass	2,503m	RB
	Nufenenpass	2,478m	RB
	Great St. Bernard	2,473m	RB
	Furkapass	2,436m	RB
	Hochwurtenspeicher	2,422m	RB
	Großsee	2,414m	RB
	Oscheniksee	2,394m	RB
	Col d'Izoard	2,360m	RB
	Albulapass	2,315m	RB
	Uina Gorge	2,309m	MTB
	Julierpass	2,284m	RB
	Kronplatz	2,275m	MTB
	Sellajoch	2,240m	RB
	Passo Pordoi	2,239m	RB
	Passo Giau	2,236m	RB
	Sustenpass	2,224m	RB
	Little St. Bernard	2,188m	RB
	Grimselpass	2,164m	RB
	Ofenpass	2,149m	RB
	Grödner Joch	2,137m	RB
	Pfälzerhütte	2,108m	MTB
	Passo Falzarego	2,105m	RB
	Jaufenpass	2,094m	RB
	Gotthardpass	2,091m	RB
	Col de la Croix de Fer	2,067m	RB
	Mangart	2,055m	RB
	Oberalppass	2,046m	RB
	Manghenpass	2,042m	RB
	Nockalmroad	2,042m	RB
	Silvretta / Bieler Höhe	2,032m	RB
	Kühtaisattel	2,017m	RB
	Zillertal Höhenstr.	2,015m	RB
	Col de la Madeleine	2,000m	RB
	Col de Sarenne	1,999m	RB
	Kitzbüheler Horn	1,996m	RB
	Malta-Hochalm	1,924m	RB
	Col du Glandon	1,924m	RB
	Lukmanierpass	1,914m	RB
	Mont Ventoux	1,912m	RB
	Alpe d'Huez	1,896m	RB
	Hahntennjoch	1,894m	RB
	Passo Campolongo	1,875m	RB
	Mortirolopass	1,852m	RB
	Furkelpass	1,789m	RB
	Monte Zoncolan	1,750m	RB
	Villach Alpine Road	1,732m	RB
	Sliezsky Dom	1,670m	RB
	Les Deux Alpes	1,650m	RB
	Col du Mollard	1,638m	RB
	Gerlospass	1,621m	RB
	Vršič	1,611m	RB
	Col du Telegraph	1,570m	RB
	Reschenpass	1,507m	RB
	Norbertshöhe	1,410m	RB
	Brennerpass	1,370m	RB
	Passwang Antenna	1,166m	RB
	Passo Predil	1,156m	RB

Spanish Sierra Nevada
	Mulhacen	3,482m	MTB
	Pico del Veleta North	3,394m	RB
	Pico del Veleta South	3,394m	MTB
	O Sel Ling	1,462m	MTB

Canary Islands
	Roque Muchachos	2,426m	RB
	Pico del Teide	2,362m	RB

Pyrenees
	Col du Tourmalet	2,115m	RB
	Col d'Aubisque	1,709m	RB
	Col de Peyresourde	1,569m	RB
	Col d'Aspin	1,489m	RB
	Col du Soulor	1,450m	RB

Mallorca
	Puig Major	879m	RB
	Coll dels Reis	718m	RB
	Coll d'Honor	550m	RB
	San Salvador	510m	RB
	Coll de Sóller	497m	RB
	Port de Valdemossa	323m	RB
	Cap de Formentor	225m	RB

Giant Mountains / Ore Mountains
	Sniezka	1,602m	MTB
	Modré Sedlo	1,500m	GB
	Vrbatova Bouda	1,400m	RB
	Klinovec	1,244m	RB
	Fichtelberg	1,215m	RB
	Spindlerpass	1,200m	RB

Balkans
	Štulac Sedlo	1,957m	GB
	Durmitor Sedlo	1,908m	GB
	Sveti Jure	1,762m	RB
	Qafa Thores	1,681m	RB
	Visočica Sedlo	1,625m	GB
	Galičica Sattel	1,564m	RB
	Prevalac	1,560m	GB
	Qafa Bordolecit	1,355m	RB
	Krstac	958m	RB

Scandinavia
	Juvasshytta	1,851m	RB
	Dalsnibba	1,459m	RB
	Flatruet	975m	MTB
	Trollstigen	866m	RB
	Ørnevegen	623m	RB
	Møllehøj	171m	MTB

Baltics
	Suur Munamägi	318m	RB
	Gaizinkalns	312m	GB
	Aukštojas	294m	GB

Benelux
	Botrange	694m	RB
	Kneiff	560m	RB
	Vaalserberg	323m	RB

United Kingdom
	Great Dun Fell	848m	RB
	Lowther Hill	724m	RB
	Cairnwell Pass	670m	RB
	Bwlch y Groes NEW	550m	RB
	Bwlch Pen-y-Feidiog NEW	530m	RB

Greece
	Voras Ski Center NEW	2.074m	RB

San Marino
	Monte Titano NEW	652m	RB

Malta
	Dingli Cliffs NEW	245m	MTB

Vatican State
	Vatican Hill NEW	77m	GB

Serra da Estrela (Portugal)
	Pico Torre	1,993m	RB

Trodoos Mountains (Cyprus)
	Olympos	1,950m	RB

Matra Mountains (Hungary)
	Kekestetö	1,014m	RB

Carpathians (Romania)
	Transalpina	2,145m	RB
	Transfagarasan	2,042m	RB

Rila Mountains (Bulgaria)
	Kalin reservoir	2,550m	MTB

Great Caucasus (Georgia)
	Abano Pass	2,865m	MTB
	Gergeti Trinity	2,170m	MTB

Germany
	Osterfelderkopf	2,032m	MTB
	Nebelhorn	1,932m	MTB
	Alpe Schlappold	1,740m	MTB
	Eagle's Nest	1,716m	MTB
	Roßfeld-Höhenring	1,540m	RB
	Riedbergpass	1,420m	RB
	Feldberg	1,493m	MTB
	Fichtelberg	1,215m	RB
	Brocken	1,142m	RB
	Salwert	11m	MTB

Andes
	Uturuncu	5,768m	MTB
	Chacaltaya	5,300m	MTB
	Salar de Uyuni	3,650m	MTB
	Yungas Death Road	3,200m	MTB

Himalayas
	Khardung La	5,602m	MTB
	Taglang La	5,358m	MTB
	Potokonkga La	4,900m	MTB
	Namshang La	4,800m	MTB
	Lamayuru Monastery	3,714m	MTB

Rocky Mountains
	Mount Evans	4,307m	RB

Hawaii
	Mauna Kea	4,200m	MTB

Ethiopian Highlands
	Tulluu Dimtuu	4,377m	MTB

Alborz-Range (Iran)
	Dizinpass	3,257m	RB
	Emamzadeh Davod	2,929m	MTB

Marathon (European Alps)
	Ötztal Cycle Marathon	5,209Hm	RB
	La Marmotte	5,180Hm	RB
	Maratona Dolomites	4,190Hm	RB
	Dreiländergiro	3,546Hm	RB
	Alpenbrevet	3,643Hm	RB
	Alpen-Challenge	2,499Hm	RB

Abano Pass 2,863m

Georgian Abano Pass leads from Kakheti to archaic mountain region of Tusheti in the Great Caucasus range. The unpaved gravel way is said to be one of the most dangerous roads in the world and is only passable in few months during summer. Mystic Tusheti has insurmountable 4,000m+ elevation borders to Chechenya, Ingushetia and Dagestan in the north. As Tusheti people are only connected to the rest of the world via Abano pass they have maintained archaic traditions and habits. The pass road starts in Kakheti village of Pshaveli. Pass summit is located after 40 kilometers and an altitude gain of some 2,500 meters. The way terminates after total 72km in Tusheti village of Omalo.

Start: north of Lechuri village 885m
Altitude difference: 1,980m
Distance: 23km
July 2018

The profile shows the slope of the southern ascent on its final 23 kilometers overcoming an elevation gain of some 2,000 meters. On the final three kilometers the grade inclines to some steady 13%.

Departure at Kakheti village of Telavi in the very early morning with a support car.

Strange road sign as today's weather forecast reports 35 degrees heat...?!

We overcome the initial 17 kilometers of the road by car as the way has only 400m of altitude gain so far. Due to many aggressive dogs alongside the road we only dare to leave the car behind the village of Lechuri and start our today's ride right at this spot. My driver guide stays with the car and the words:"If you won't be back in maximum eight hours, I will follow by car and look for you!"

The unpaved way leads alongside small Stori river until an elevation of 1,500m.

Some switchbacks provide great cycling fun.

The lower part is forested and pleasantly shady.

However, the road is only secured in few parts.

View down to the way in the valley

After the wooded passage the road winds up to pass summit in the very top back of the image.

The unsecured track is very narrow and only passable for the width of a single car. In bad weather and respective severe road conditions it becomes very dangerous for oncoming traffic. However, on my bicycle the heat of the strong sunlight becomes the main problem today - no more shadow at all.

Local horse riders overcome the pass with their horses directing them only by strong and loud calls.

Only very few tourists cars

View back onto the long ascent above timberline

At an altitude of some 2,500m a final group of tight slopes

Curves are tight, steep and very demanding

Narrow track...

2,000 meters of altitude gain with an average 8% grade in strong heat on a dirt track - hard work!

After some five hours of painful riding pass summit is being reached.

The image shows the descent way on the other side of the pass down to Tusheti area with the snow covered mountains of the Great Caucasus range in the very back. The range forms the border to Russia and its autonomous Caucasus republics of Chechenya and Ingushetia.