Top 5 mountain passes in Europe?

[El Dudeness]

Hey everybody!

I'm slowly preparing for a 14 day adventure in the autumn heading out from the middle of Denmark out into the rest of the western side of Europe.

I'll (hopefully) be covering Denmark, north Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, North of France, Le Mans, western France, Tourmalet, Cascais (the most western part of Europe, Portugal), Gibraltar, Barcelona, Andorra, Mount Ventoux, L'Alpe d'Huez, Stelvio Lichtenstein and Munich before grabbing the autozug to Hamburg and riding home.

Now my friends - I'm interested in hearing which are your Top 5 mountain passes in the western part of Europe?? I've already done Grossglockner so I'm thinking I'll save Austria....

Looking forward to hearing from you guys :cheer:

[picos mestizo]

Don't bother with Barcelona.
When you hit the Spanish border Turn Right(go west) & do the Picos Mountain Ranges.

[Oop North John]

Might as well ask what's the best bike

To give you some idea of where you might want to go then have a look here:

http://www.alpineroads.com/passstatus.php

And buy this book:

http://www.mapsman.com/store/product.php?id=484

IMO the Stelvio is one of the highest, but not in the "best" unless height is the only criteria.

[Paul-S]

I suppose it depends what you want from the pass

Have a look at what we did based on how the last day of last years Pyrenees trip went

http://www.adventurebikerider.com/forum ... chool.html

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if this is what you're after

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We covered more miles on single track though with no traffic for all of the 8 days

[GUNDOG]

I love the Furka, and the Col de l'iseran.

[Boo Cock]

Colle De La Bonnet if you are down that way. It's the highest road pass in Europe. :woohoo:
Try the book Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps And Corsica. Very good.

[Campagman]

Ref Alpe D'Huez - go beyond the ski resort over to the right past the airfield and over the Col de Saronne (the Tour de France is going that way in 3 week time 18th July).
I cycled it in the late 90's, total isolated no sign of life totally blue sky, spendid isolation. The col the drops back down a steep descent to the barrage/dam athe foot of the climb to Les Deux Alps just of the Col de Lautauret road to Briancon

[andymac]

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[Elle]

Don't think it's covered by your list but I fell in love with the Dolomites

[mawse]

Don't think it's covered by your list but I fell in love with the Dolomites

Spend a few hours riding the SellaRonda and maybe add in Passo Falzarrego and Passo Giau

Cracking riding and amazing views (when its not foggy!)