Image 1 of 67 Ivan Basso was the first rider over the Passo di Mortirolo in 2006 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 2 of 67 Cadel Evans feeling the pain of the steep Mortirolo slopes (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 3 of 67 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 4 of 67 Giro d'Italia 2015: 3D profile of the Passo del Tonale (Image credit: RCS Sport) Image 5 of 67 Antonio Colom rides past the Marco Pantani monument on the Mortirolo in 2008 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 6 of 67 Giro d'Italia 2015: Stage 16 climb of the Passo del Mortirolo (Image credit: RCS Sport) Image 7 of 67 Leonardo Sierra was the first rider over the Mortirolo in 1990 when the climb was used by the Giro for the first time (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 8 of 67 The tifosi line the Mortirolo climb in 1994 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 9 of 67 Claudio Chiappucci high up on the Mortirolo in 1994 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 10 of 67 Oliver Zaugg was the first rider over the Mortirolo in 2012 which was the first time it was climbed from the Tovo di Sant'Agata side (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 11 of 67 1992 and 1993 Giro d'Italia champion Miguel Indurian on the Mortirolo for the first time in his career (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 12 of 67 Evgeni Berzin on the slopes of the Mortirolo in 1994 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 13 of 67 Giani Bugno in the maglia rosa during the 1990 Giro d'Italia as the peloton makes its way up the Mortirolo (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 14 of 67 Marino Amadori using his frame shifters up the Mortirolo in 1990 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 15 of 67 The peloton during its first ever Giro ascent of the Mortirolo in 1990 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 16 of 67 The Giro d'Italia used the Tovo di Sant'Agata side of the Mortirolo climb for the first time in 2012 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 17 of 67 Miguel Ángel Rubiano has to get off his bike on the sleep slopes (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 18 of 67 Bernie Eisel and Mark Cavendish willing themselves over the Mortirolo in 2012 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 19 of 67 Thomas De Ghent on the Mortirolo in 2012 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 20 of 67 2012 Giro d'Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal on the Mortirolo (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 21 of 67 Marco Pantani making the Mortirolo his own in 1994 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 22 of 67 Marco Pantani was the first rider over the Mortirolo in 1994 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 23 of 67 Ivan Gotti was the first rider over the Mortirolo in 1999 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 24 of 67 Paolo Savoldelli on the Mortirolo in 1999 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 25 of 67 Roberto Herras climbing the Mortirolo (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 26 of 67 World champion Oscar Camenzind crashed hard while descending from the Mortirolo in 1999 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 27 of 67 Massimo Codol in shock after crashing on the Mortirolo in 1999 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 28 of 67 Marco Pantani was excluded from the 1999 Giro d'Italia for excessive hematocrit level before stage 21, the day the race visited the Mortirolo but his fans were still roadside for the stage (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 29 of 67 Chepe González climbing through the tifosi on Mortirolo in 1997, the year he won his first mountains classification (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 30 of 67 It's a fast descent off the Mortirolo (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 31 of 67 Marco Fincato and Paolo Savoldelli climbing the Mortirolo in 1997 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 32 of 67 Gianni Bugno climbing the Mortirolo alone in 1997 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 33 of 67 Pavel Tonkov and Ivan Gotti climbing the Mortirolo in 1997 just as they had done one year previously but would be Gotti winning the overall this time (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 34 of 67 Pavel Tonkov and Ivan Gotti in 1996 on the Mortirolo the year that Tonkov won the race overall (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 35 of 67 Ivan Gotti leading Pavel Tonkov up and over the Mortirolo in 1996 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 36 of 67 The maglia rosa Evgeni Berzin riding up the Mortirolo in 1994 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 37 of 67 Domenico Pozzovivo leads the GC men on the Mortirolo in 2012 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti) Image 38 of 67 The Passo di Mortirolo has previously featured in the Giro d'Italia seven times (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 39 of 67 Emanuele Sella pushes the pace on the Mortirolo in 2008 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 40 of 67 Emanuele Sella and Joaquim Rodríguez at the front of the race in 2008 as the Giro visited the Passo di Mortirolo (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 41 of 67 The top GC men from 2008 on the Passo di Mortirolo (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 42 of 67 The Giro visited the Passo di Mortirolo again in 2008 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 43 of 67 Jurgen van den Broeck on the Passo di Mortirolo in 2008 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 44 of 67 Maglia rosa Ivan Basso on the Passo di Mortirolo with Gilberto Simoni for company (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 45 of 67 Ivan Basso pushing through the tifosi who packed the Passo di Mortirolo in 2006 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 46 of 67 Damiano Cunego was the Giro maglia rosa when the race visited the Mortirolo in 2004 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 47 of 67 Serhiy Honchar and Damiano Cunego in 2004 in the Mortirolo (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 48 of 67 Fabian Wegmann on the Mortirolo in 2004 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 49 of 67 The peloton starts the 12.4km ascent of the Mortirolo from Mazzo di Valtellina in 2004 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 50 of 67 David Arroyo trying to hold onto his maglia rosa on the Mortirolo in 2010 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 51 of 67 Ivan Basso leads Michele Scarponi and Vincenzo Nibali up the Mortirolo (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 52 of 67 Race leader Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) leading 2012 winner Ryder Hesjedal up the Mortirolo in 2012 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 53 of 67 Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) starting to distance Ryder Hesjedal in 2012 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 54 of 67 The Mortirolo played an important part in the 2012 battle for the maglia rosa (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 55 of 67 Thick fog envelopes Steven Kruijswijk and Robert Kišerlovski in 2010 on the Mortirolo (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 56 of 67 Vincenzo Nibali leads teammate Ivan Basso up the Mortirolo in 2010 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 57 of 67 The tifosi camped out on the Mortirolo in 2010 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 58 of 67 Bauke Mollema attacking on the Moritolo in 2010 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 59 of 67 David Arroyo was the maglia rosa when the Giro passed over the Mortirolo in 2010 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 60 of 67 Vincenzo Nibali, Ivan Basso and Michele Scarponi digging deep on the Mortirolo in 2010 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 61 of 67 Cadel Evans is dropped on the Mortirolo in 2010 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 62 of 67 Richie Porte in the best young riders jersey when the Giro visited the Mortirolo in 2010 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 63 of 67 Riccardo Ricco leading Alberto Contador up the Passo di Mortirolo in 2008 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Image 64 of 67 Marco Pantani climbing the Mortirolo in 1994 (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 65 of 67 The tifosi on the Mortirolo were stacked ten deep as the pink jersey passed. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 66 of 67 Ivan Basso was first over Passo del Mortirolo in the maglia rosa on his way to winning the 2006 Giro d'Italia. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 67 of 67 The leading trio of Ivan Basso, Vincenzo Nibali and Michele Scarponi are about to crest the Mortirolo summit. (Image credit: Sirotti)

The Passo del Mortirolo returns to the Giro d'Italia this year and is again expected to be one of the decisive moments of the Corsa Rosa and play a significant role in deciding who goes on to win the maglia rosa in Milan.

This year the Giro d’Italia climbs the Mortirolo from the traditional Mazzo di Valtellina side. The 11.8km climb is one of the toughest and steepest used in professional races. It has an average gradient of 10.9%. Several sectors are at 18%, with a six-kilometre middle sector climbing at a painful 12.2%.

The Mortirolo has quickly become one o the iconic climbs of the Giro d’Italia, alongside the Passo dello Stelvio, the Passo Gavia and the stunning climbs of the Dolomites.

It first featured in the Giro d’Italia in 1990. Leonardo Sierra had the honour of being the first rider over the summit on the way to winning that day’s stage. The climb also featured in the Giro d’Italia in 1991 with Franco Chioccioli replicating Sierra as the first rider over the climb and the stage winner. The Italian also claimed the overall victory.

Marco Pantani conquered the Mortirolo in 1994 as he first showed his climbing ability in a Grand Tour. He dropped race leader Evgeni Berzin and Miguel Indurain to win in Aprica and secure second overall ahead of the Spaniard.

In remembrance of Pantani, the first rider over the Mortirolo receives the special Cima Pantani prize. A monument to remember Pantani was also erected on the Mazzo di Valtellina side of the climb in 2006.

In 2006 Ivan Basso became the third rider to crest the Mortirolo and then go on to win the Giro d’Italia. The Italian also repeated the Mortirolo maglia rosa double in 2010.

The Mortirolo last featured in the Giro d’Italia in 2012 when Oliver Zaugg lead over the climb after reaching the summit via the Tovo di Sant'Agata side for the first time. The stage was known as the 'Giro 2012 Fan Stage' with the route chosen as the result of a fan poll, which asked them to pick the "climb-that-can-not-be-missed".

This year the Mortirolo features on the 174km 16th stage from Pinzolo to Aprica on Tuesday May 26, immediately after the second rest day of the race. The peloton will have already climbed the category two Campo Carlo Magno and Passo del Tonale climbs and the category three climb in Aprica before starting the ascent of the Passo del Mortirolo. The summit is just 12.2km away from the finish in Aprica.

This special Passo del Mortirolo photo gallery looks back at the racing on the climb, capturing the passion of the tifosi who cheer on the riders from the roadside and the pain and suffering of the riders.