A vertical show, a rose-tinged emotion. On Saturday 25 May, for the seventh time, the Giro d’Italia will return to the Ca’ del Poggio Wall, coloring the symbolic climb of the Prosecco hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene pink. The Wall of Ca’ del Poggio is located in San Pietro di Feletto, halfway between Venice and the Dolomites. It is a 1.1 km long climb, entirely asphalted, with an average gradient of 12.3% and peaks of 19%, which winds through the vineyards. A pure spectacle, in the heart of a land where cycling has always been a passion without borders. On 26 May 2022, on the occasion of the last passage of the Giro d’Italia, the presence of twenty thousand fans was estimated at the Ca’ del Poggio Wall. A celebration that promises to be repeated tomorrow for the passage of the 107th Giro d’Italia. Among the guests of the day also the governor of Veneto, Luca Zaia, expected on the Wall for the second part of the morning.
Path
The stage is number 20 and will develop from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa for a total of 184 kilometres. The Ca’ del Poggio Wall (242 meters maximum altitude), gateway to the land of Prosecco di Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, is located at kilometer 30.3 of the race and will be accompanied by the first Mountain Grand Prix of the day. Curves and counter-curves through the vineyards will liven up the race on the eve of the grand finale in Rome. The arrival of the Pink Caravan on the Wall of Ca’ del Poggio is scheduled for 11am, while the transit of the runners is expected a few minutes after 12.30pm.
Greetings from the Municipalities
The pink caravan has already arrived on Monte Grappa. Huge pink sheets have appeared on the streets and town halls of the twenty municipalities adhering to the IPA of the Lands of Asolo Montegrappa and the Unione Montana del Bassanese, greeting the Giro d’Italia. The idea was born to create a union between municipal administrations with a view to promoting the territory during the days of the Giro and has already spread on social media. But they are not the only signs present on the streets and in public places, around seventy frames are also circulating. The pink lights initiative also continues, Canova’s Temple of Possagno is an example of this. But above all, the “Tappa DEcoROSA” communication campaign has come to life to raise public awareness of the importance of environmental protection. Cartoonist Valentino Villanova was commissioned to create a small graphic novel in which everyone is asked, with nice irony, to take waste back to the valley and respect the environment. Panels with comics, in both Italian and English, will be installed on the climbing routes towards Cima Grappa. In this case, 65 signs were installed, 40 in Italian and 25 in English.
A highly anticipated stage, that of May 25th: 181 kilometers in total, we will start from Alpago and, after having crossed the Prosecco Hills for a long time, with the climb of the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio (4th cat.), after 85 kilometers we will arrive at the foot of Monte Grappa. The runners will tackle it from the Semonzo side, reaching 1700 meters above sea level with 18.2 km of climb, with an average gradient of 8.1% and a couple of short stretches on a slight slope. At the top there will be 78 km to go and a long descent of almost 30 km will take the group back to Semonzo, where the second climb of Monte Grappa will begin. The last 32 km will be in a nosedive and then off towards Bassano del Grappa, where the stage winner will be rewarded. Places that enthusiasts have always known. And, speaking of history, the link between the Giro and Monte Grappa should also be remembered. The 1968 stage won by Emilio Casalini is 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 with Vincenzo Nibali in 2010. The last big event was in 2014, with the time trial with the riders changing their bikes at the height of the Church of Semonzo in Borso del Grappa with arrival at Cima Grappa won by Nairo Quintana: the Colombian sprinted last and beat the young Fabio Aru by 17 seconds. Monte Grappa, however, is not only uphill, but also downhill: Vincenzo Nibali in 2010, after overtaking the Grappa da Semonzo, dived towards Asolo, separating Cadel Evans, Michele Scarponi and teammate Ivan Basso. The management of events collateral to the tour and promotional initiatives for the territory are carried out by a compact group of entities that are working in sync with each other, coordinated by the Veneto Region and the Provinces of Vicenza and Treviso. We mention them: the municipalities of the IPA (Programmatic Area Agreement) of the Lands of Asolo Montegrappa (Asolo, Borso del Grappa, Castelcucco, Cavaso del Tomba, Cornuda, Fonte, Maser, Monfumo, Mussolente, Pieve del Grappa, Pederobba, Possagno , Romano d’Ezzelino and San Zenone degli Ezzelini, Altivole). Then there is the Unione Montana del Bassanese which includes the municipalities of Bassano del Grappa, Romano d’Ezzelino, Pove del Grappa, Solagna and Valbrenta. In particular, the municipalities affected by the passage of the 2024 Giro d’Italia are: Bassano del Grappa, Pove, Solagna, Romano d’Ezzelino, Borso del Grappa, Pieve del Grappa, Possagno, Cavaso del Tomba, Pederobba and Cornuda. The promotion of the initiatives was promoted by Ipa Terre di Asolo Montegrappa and Unione Montana del Bassanese with the collaboration of the Mab Unesco Biosphere Reserve of Monte Grappa, Association for the heritage of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, Tourist Consortium Vivere il Grappa.
