Modest in profile but immense in history, Passo del Turchino has linked Piedmont to the Ligurian coast in almost every edition of Milan-Sanremo since the race began in 1907.
A gentle climb with an outsized reputation
From Mele, it’s 9.5 km for around 480 m of elevation gain, averaging 5.1%, on a steady, unremarkable gradient that rarely troubles a well-prepared rider. The pass itself sits at 591 m, marking the historic boundary between Piedmont and Liguria.
The road that opens Milan-Sanremo
Since 1907, the Passo del Turchino has featured in nearly every edition of Milan-Sanremo, the first significant obstacle of the season’s opening Monument, crossed while the peloton is still largely intact before the harder coastal climbs later in the race.
Getting the ride right
A set of lights is worth carrying — a short tunnel section near the summit is dim even during the day.
When to go
March to November — the modest elevation keeps the pass rideable across most of the year, cold snaps aside.
Good to know
The climb links naturally into a longer loop toward Genoa’s western coastline, dropping down through Voltri to rejoin the sea within a few kilometres of the summit.