The Tyrolean Pass: Timmelsjoch

Statistics: Timmelsjoch from St. Leonhard (Merano), Italy

Distance: 29,1 km / 18,1 miles

Elevation Gain: 1806 m / 5925 feet

Average Gradient: 6,2 %

Timmelsjoch or Passo Rombo historically linked the Ötztal Valley in Tyrol with the Passeir Valley in South Tyrol. Today, Timmelsjoch is considered to be one of the most significant Passes in the Tyrolean Alps sitting between present day Austria and Italy. The Summit sits at 2474 m / 8117 feet, making it one of the highest paved border crossings in Europe. (Timmelsjoch is just slightly lower than Col Agnel (2744m) in France connecting France to Italy.)

Construction of Timmelsjoch took place relatively recently in 1955 and was completed in 1968. The road is an engineering masterpiece built directly on the mountain between remote valleys and glaciers. There are two main ascents to the Summit of Timmelsjoch. The first and more famous side starts in Italy at St. Leonhard, and the second ascent starts in Austria at Sölden.

I first climbed Timmelsjoch from the Italian side in the Summer of 2025 with some of my closest cycling friends. I have ascended many climbs in my life, but Timmelsjoch is the highest climb I have ever done in my life! Most climb statistics say the elevation gain of Timmelsjoch is 1806m / 5925 feet. However, in reality the elevation gain of the climb is 1980m / 6500 feet making it ~150m higher than the famous Passo Stelvio.

Timmelsjoch is also one of my favorite climbs in the Tyrolean Alps! The views are hands down some of the best in the Alps from glaciers and Alpine valleys to the enormous Ötztal mountain peaks. The road features approximately 25 switchbacks and 5 tunnels making it in my opinion a bucket list climb for any serious cyclist.

I remember climbing Timmelsjoch for the first time relatively fatigued from climbing all the sides of Stelvio the day prior. My tired legs, however, thankfully didn't take away from the incredible memory of climbing Timmelsjoch. On this day, we started in Merano and reached St. Leonhard after roughly 8km. Once reaching St. Leonhard cyclists have the option to either ascend Jaufenpass to the East or Timmelsjoch to the West. We opted for Timmelsjoch on this day.

The climb holds a relatively steady gradient of 6-7% throughout with multiple 100m sections of 14-15%. I found the last 4 -5 km of Timmelsjoch to be the most difficult. Not only is this section the steepest, but in the last kilometers cyclists are at an elevation of around 2200 - 2474m. At this altitude, I felt as if I was breathing through a straw, and the 10% average gradient here felt more like 15%. Remember to pace strategically and leave some gas for the end when climbing Timmelsjoch!

Once reaching the Summit, we were rewarded with incredible views from Ötztal / Sölden all the way to the Passeir Valley / Merano. The Summit is also a great place to grab a snack and refill bottles before the 30km descent back into the Valley.

The climb is generally open to cyclists between June and September. Timmelsjoch is also featured every year as the 4th and final climb in the famous Ötztal Radmarathon Race. As mentioned before, if you haven't already climbed Timmelsjoch, I would recommend adding it to your bucket list. It is a climb I will never forget and a climb I hope to go back to soon.