Muro di Sormano is one of the iconic ascents of Il Lombardia (Giro di Lombardia, historically). It provides what is in its name: a climb like a wall.
The ‘only’ 1,95 km long Muro di Sormano has an average steepness of 15%, the maximum gradient is 27%.
It was introduced to Giro di Lombardia in 1960. Although race director Vincenzo Torriani didn’t find it too hard, riders protested against the use of the ascent almost immediately. Many of the could reach the top only on foot sue to the steepness. An there was the problem with the Italian fans, who tried to help their idols, pushed them, giving them an unwanted advantage, while foreign riders had to struggle through the climb on their own.
Muro di Sormano was only used three times in the 1960s (1960-1962) and Ercole Baldini was its undisputable king. The ascent returned into the program exactly after a hiatus of half of a century in 2012 when Romain Bardet crossed the top first.