From Bovec to the end of the Mangart road (6,742 ft / 2,055 m) it’s 15.2 miles (24.5 km) at an average of 6.7%, with 5,381 ft (1,640 m) of climbing, according to CyclingCols. Climbfinder gives 15.2 miles (24.4 km) and 5,367 ft (1,636 m). If you start at the turnoff from the Predil road, where the Mangart road proper begins, salite.ch measures 7 miles (11.3 km) at 8.4%.
What the climb is like
- Bovec to Log pod Mangartom. You head up the Koritnica valley on the road toward the Predil Pass, on moderate grades and with some traffic.
- On to the Mangart turnoff. You stay on the Predil road, now steeper, until the junction with the Mangart road.
- The Mangart road (about 7 miles / 11 km). This is where it gets good: a narrow road averaging more than 8%, with hairpins (Climbfinder counts 23 on the whole climb) and, near the top, a line carved into the mountainside with huge views. Sources disagree on the steepest pitch (CyclingCols gives 17% and Climbfinder 12.2% over 100 m), but expect some very hard ramps.
From the top you look south down the Koritnica valley and north to the Fusine lakes in Italy. The Mangart hut sits just below the saddle.
History
The Mangart road was built in 1938 and is the highest road in Slovenia. The Mangart Saddle (6,798 ft / 2,072 m) is the usual starting point for climbing Mount Mangart (8,789 ft / 2,679 m), and it was a filming location for the Slovenian movie Let’s Go Our Own Way. It has never featured in a Grand Tour.
When to go, water and traffic
It’s a high mountain road that closes in winter; the season runs from late spring to early fall. Check conditions before you go. Traffic is moderate in the valley and light on the Mangart road itself. Fill your bottles in Bovec or Log pod Mangartom: at the top there’s only the hut.
What gearing to use
At 3 W/kg (watts per kilo of body weight) and 159 lb (72 kg), you’ll ride about 6.2 mph (9.9 km/h) on 9%; with a 34x32 that’s a cadence of about 74 rpm. For close to two hours with a final section above 8%, fit a 34x32 or something easier. Compare options in the gear calculator.
Tips
- Save your legs for the Mangart road: everything before it is the approach.
- Pack warm clothes: up above 6,500 ft (2,000 m) the weather changes fast.
- Pair it with the Vršič, on the other side of Bovec.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb Mangart from Bovec?
A 159 lb (72 kg) rider on a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike takes about 1 h 55 min at 3 W/kg (216 W), 2 h 17 min at 2.5 W/kg and 1 h 29 min at 4 W/kg. Work out your own time with your weight and power in the calculator on this page.
Where does the Mangart road start?
At a turnoff from the Predil Pass road, above Log pod Mangartom. From there, salite.ch measures about 7 miles (11.3 km) at 8.4%; the rest, back to Bovec, is the approach up the valley.
When was the Mangart road built?
In 1938. It is the highest road in Slovenia and tops out at 6,742 ft (2,055 m), just below the Mangart Saddle (6,798 ft / 2,072 m).