Colle di Lauson
	Height	Climbing height
	2497m	2121m (Pinerolo) 1995m (Susa) 473m (Sestriere); 1143m (Cesana Torinese)
	Difficulty	Beauty
	5 (5) (Susa); 4 (5) (Pinerolo); 3 (5) (Cesana)	4-5 (5)
How to get there	This is one of many passes on the spectacular Assietta ridge road from Susa to Sestriere in the western Italian alps. Most cycloclimbers wish to go on this road at least once in their life. You can start in the southeast at Pinerolo (376m) and turn off the road up to Sestriere at Depot (1078m) (asphalt for some time) and then continue until just 2.5 km before Colle delle Finestre, where the Assietta road leads off west. The hardest climb is however the one starting in Susa (502m) on the north side of Colle delle Finestre (2176m). The climb starts off with a section of 17-18% and then there is a seemingly endless series of hairpin bends (more than on the Stelvio, but shorter) on harsh asphalt with around 10% all the way to Colletto di Meana (1455m), where the road eases off temporarily while turning into a gravel road and then it is 9% to the pass. Then down 2.5 km until the start of the Assietta ridge road which is particularly hard cycling just before reaching the Colle dell’Assietta (2472m). The Asiettea ridge road is mostly okay for cycling between Colle dell’Assietta and Colle Basset (2424m) where the road goes somewhat steeply down to Sestriere with varying gravel road quality. The climb from Cesana Torinese (1354m) and Colle del Sestriere (2024m) is the easiest. Fine asphalt with moderate gradients to Sestriere and then some hard work up to Colle Basset (2424m). Avoid rain (but it is good if it rained a few days ago as it get less dusty then). R1 (some R1-2).
Other comments	The highest points on the ridge road are just above 2500m and the lowest point between Colle dell’Assietta and Colle Basset is around Colle Bourget (2299m) in the middle. I started at 5 p.m. in Susa – not advised if you wish to reach Sestriere in daylight (it is doubtful anyone could do it)! For most people this is a full day ride. This also explains why I only have one photo along the very nice road (and one at Colle delle Finestre). There is not much water to be found along this road and water is needed, so most people should probably have two bottles with them. This year, Giro d’Italia will go over Colle delle Finestre (but not, luckily for the riders, go along the Assietta ridge road). This should still prove to be a harder climb than the Stelvio one and is one of the few climbs in the Alps that makes me shudder a little. [IT-TO-2497a]