Giro d’Italia, the last battle on Monte Grappa. In the final stage from Alpago to Bassano, the historic climb will be tackled twice

There will be 184 kilometers of pure spectacle, from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa. It is the queen stage of the Giro d’Italia which will start on Saturday from the Belluno area with 115 km in the Marche. A stage that will give strong emotions to the fans. Something like one hundred thousand people are expected on Monte Grappa, a “colourful” invasion on the climb that made the history of cycling as well as that of our war history of the First World War. The route follows that of the Bassano – Montegrappa, a prestigious race for amateurs also won by a young Gino Bartali. From Alpago and precisely from Farra we will leave at 11.40 to immediately climb the Sella Fadalto by bicycle, the descent towards Nove and Vittorio Veneto and the passage through the Valley with Revine Lago and Tarzo. Then the runners will face the first “roughness” of the day with the easy climb on the already sold out Ca’ del Poggio Wall to celebrate the seventh passage of the pink caravan.

Then the descent towards Refrontolo, Pieve di Soligo, Sernaglia. We will cross the Piave in a sort of embrace with Cima Grappa in Vidor and we will face the Possagno valley passing through Crocetta where another party is expected at the Astoria. The passage in homage to the great Antonio Canova and your Temple overlooking Possagno. And there the runners will face the first sprint of the day and after 75 km they begin to breathe the air of Monte Grappa passing through Crespano. At kilometer 87.800 you pass through Semonzo where the Integiro is positioned but only on the second pass.

And the climb to Cima Grappa begins from Semonzo. That is to say 18,100 km with a gradient ranging from 8.1 to 14%. Then swoop down towards Ponte San Lorenzo and Romano d’Ezzelino to reach Semonzo again with the Integiro and the second and final climb to Monte Grappa. From the second passage in Romano d’Ezzelino we will then go towards the finish line in Bassano del Grappa where the arrival is scheduled for 5pm.

A decidedly apt choice is that of the double climb to Monte Grappa, a sort of circuit that will allow the thousands of fans who will go up by bike, on foot, in a car or with a camper to enjoy the shots of Pogacar twice and the rest of the group. Obviously, the many Venetian runners who have faced the ascent to Cima Grappa in training or in competition are also expected, starting with Marco Frigo, a runner from Bassano or Filippo Zana and Andrea Vendrame. In recent days, numerous groups have already booked places to set up food stands on Grappa because a huge popular celebration is being prepared.

But the link between the Giro and Monte Grappa is strong, a natural theater for cycling events. AND the stage that Emilio Casalini won in 1968 is now legendary. In 1974 we started from Misurina, the stage was won by Eddy Merckx: Fuente was on the run at the top of the hill and was reached during the descent of the Cadorna. Up to the present day, with a climb up the General Giardino (known as “Degli Arditi”), then a descent onto the Cadorna and a solo finish by Vincenzo Nibali in 2010. And in 2014 the time trial with change of the cyclists’ bicycles at the height of the Church of Semonzo di Borso del Grappa and arrival at Cima Grappa with the victory of Nairo Quintana: the Colombian sprinted last and beat the young Fabio Aru by 17 seconds. Vincenzo Nibali in 2010, after overtaking Grappa from Semonzo, dived towards Asolo, separating Cadel Evans, Michele Scarponi and teammate Ivan Basso.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Read the full article at
The Gazzettino