Passo Staulanza (South side)

Passo Staulanza (South side)

Passo Staulanza is an Alpine pass in the Belluno province of the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, positioned between the Civetta group to the west and the Pelmo massif to the east. The pass links Val di Zoldo on the south side with Val Fiorentina and the Cadore area to the north, and forms part of the Dolomite sector recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage landscape. A mountain refuge at the summit serves as a staging point for the Alta Via 1 trail network and for access to Monte Pelmo, Pelmetto, and Civetta hiking routes.

Passo Staulanza is regarded as a transitional but strategically important Dolomite climb in road cycling, frequently incorporated into multi-pass circuits linking the Zoldo, Agordino, and Cadore sectors. The southern approach through Val di Zoldo is considered the more demanding ascent, while the northern side from Selva di Cadore is more irregular and exposed to views of Monte Pelmo. The pass has appeared repeatedly in the Giro d’Italia, often as a connector between larger climbs in the eastern Dolomites, and was notably used during the 1980 edition contested by Bernard Hinault and Giovanni Battaglin.