Climbs of Giro d’Italia – Gardeccia

On this climb of Giro d’Italia 1976, Felice Gimondi lost the pink jersey, but he withstood the attacks and eventually won the Giro. In 2011, it was the Spanish rider Mikel Nieve (Euskadi) the first to cross the finish line of the 15th stage, Conegliano-Gardeccia (229 km). In second place, Stefano Garzelli (Acqua&Sapone); third, Alberto Contador (Saxo), who preceded by a few metres Michele Scarponi, after a comeback on the finish.

It’s a demanding route that concentrates 600 m of elevation gain in just 6,5 km (5,94 km of whom are without flat stretches), with an average gradient of 9,6%. From the roundabout in Pera, begin the ascent to the hamlet of Muncion (1,5 km), with stretches that touch a gradient of 15%. After leaving this suggestive village behind, with a breath-taking view on Pozza, Cima Undici and Cima Dodici, the road goes slightly down for about 500 m, it flattens for another 500 m and then it goes up again. The last 3 km are the most challenging: the road gets narrower, the asphalt seems to rear, climbing very tough stretches with gradient peaks between 10% and 16% (average gradient 13%). After two hairpin turns, pedal on a long straightaway for about 1 km at 17%. Afterwards, the ascent gets softer, the last 100 m are on gravel, and eventually you’ll reach the resort of Gardeccia.