Ride Review #2: Giro dei Tre Confini + Mangart Madness

🌍 Giro dei Tre Confini + Mangart Madness

Date: 24 July 2024

Title: The Tour of Five Borders — One Ride, Three Countries, Endless Glory

They say borders are lines on a map. But on July 24th, I crossed them not with passport in hand, but with pedals beneath me — a human-powered odyssey through Slovenia, Austria, and Italy. Over five border crossings, countless switchbacks, and a summit kiss atop Mangart, Slovenia’s highest paved road, this wasn’t just a ride — it was a rite of passage.

🔥 3 COUNTRIES. 5 BORDERS. 1 WILD HEART. 

The route began with an early roll-out from Kranjska Gora, the morning air crisp and mountains already brooding. What followed was a rollercoaster through alpine majesty and rugged defiance:

🏞️ Passo del Predil

Italy’s forgotten pass — silent, steep, and stitched with switchbacks. The climb rose slowly, through ghostly forts and echoing tunnels. You feel like you’re pedaling through the pages of a war-torn epic.

🧊 Sella Nevea & Austria Loop

The scenery turned cinematic — jagged peaks, emerald valleys, and alpine lakes reflecting sky like mirrors. Rolling into Austria was surreal — neat towns, friendly smiles, and legs still fresh (ish).

🏔️ MANGART PASS – THE CROWN JEWEL

This is where the mountain gods reside. Twisting its way above the clouds, Mangart Saddle sits at 2,072m, Slovenia’s highest road. But it’s more than altitude — it’s art. Carved tunnels. Cliffside exposure. Waterfalls. Silence. It’s a ride that feels like you’re ascending into myth. At the summit, I stopped. Not because I had to. But because the world demanded stillness.

I will never forget that view. That moment. That overwhelming feeling of “this is what I’m here for.”

🏔️ Mangart Pass (Mangartsko Sedlo) — Slovenia’s Highest Road

Location: Julian Alps, Slovenia
Summit Elevation: 2,072 m
Start Point: Log pod Mangartom (~650 m)
Climb Length: ~12.2 km
Elevation Gain: ~1,400 m
Average Gradient: ~11.5%
Max Gradient: ~14–15% in final kilometres
Road Surface: Fully paved (some patched, narrow sections)
Road Type: Dead-end / Out-and-back
Tunnel Sections: 5 (some unlit — bring lights!)
Number of Hairpins: 17 major hairpins + multiple sweeping curves
Cycling Season: Late May to early October (often snow-covered outside these months)


Route Map suggestion: Komoot Route Example - Kranjska Gora to Mangart Saddle Summit. Check out my ride link here on Komoot! 

🧭 ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS

• Initial Climb: After leaving Log pod Mangartom, the gradient kicks in quickly as you pass through alpine forest and toward the lower slopes.
• Tunnels Galore: About halfway up, the road punches through five rock tunnels carved directly into the cliffs — rough-hewn and completely epic.
• Hairpin Paradise: The top half of the climb features tight, dramatic hairpins that feel like you’re on the spine of the mountain itself.
• Final Segment: The last 3 km are jaw-dropping, with 360° views, no guardrails, and a thrilling exposure. It’s a surreal moonscape of limestone cliffs and alpine grasslands.
  

🚴♂️CYCLIST NOTES

• Traffic: Minimal — Mangart is not a through-road. Popular with cyclists and motorcyclists in summer.
• Wind: Can be brutal and unpredictable near the saddle.
• Descent: Twisty, tight, and technical. Take care in tunnels (especially if wet or dark).

❤️ WHY I LOVED IT

• It’s Slovenia’s highest paved road, and it feels like it — isolated, raw, and otherworldly.
• You can look into three countries from the summit: Slovenia, Italy, and Austria.
• It’s like the Stelvio's weird, wild cousin — shorter, steeper, and infinitely quieter.
• Border-crossing by bike is something every cyclist should do. You feel the culture shift, the road texture change, the language swap — all without leaving the saddle.
• The solitude of Mangart. It was me, the mountain, and the murmur of wind through the pines.
• That descent. Fast, flowing, ferocious. Pure joy. Pure adrenalin. Pure you-can’t-buy-this-anywhere.
  

🍝 REFUEL RECOMMENDATIONS

• Post-ride feed: Gostilna Pri Martinu in Kranjska Gora – hearty Slovenian fare, wild mushroom soup and štruklji that tastes like grandma made it.
  
  
• Snack stop near Tarvisio, Italy: Bar da Franco — strong espresso and views to kill for.
  
  
• Gelato break in Austria: Try Lagler Café in Thörl-Maglern – worth the detour, trust me.
  

🛏️ WHERE I STAYED 

Hotel Kotnik – Kranjska Gora
Cyclist-friendly. Quiet. Cozy beds and powerful showers (you’ll need both). They lock up bikes like they’re crown jewels and serve pancakes that bring tears to your eyes.

✨ FINAL WORDS

This ride was more than kilometres or elevation gain. It was a journey through time, terrain, and identity. It reminded me that bikes don’t just carry us over mountains — they carry us deeper into who we are.

On July 24th, 2024, I didn’t just ride borders. I blurred them.