DEMA: MDB ,TERRA DEL AIGUA. ELS DEL GIRO EL ZONCOLAN

Monte Zoncolan

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Monte Zoncolan
Elevation	1,750 m (5,741 ft)
Location
Monte Zoncolan Italy
Range	Carnic Alps
Coordinates	46°30′0″N 12°55′0″ECoordinates: 46°30′0″N 12°55′0″E

Monte Zoncolan (el.1,750 metres (5,740 ft)) is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing, having been used in the Giro d'Italia twice (2003, 2007) and the Giro Donne once (1997). Gilberto Simoni was the winner of both stages finishing on Monte Zoncolan in the men's Giro while Fabiana Luperini won at the only visit in the women's race.

Details of the climb

The mountain can be climbed on three roads: one from Ovaro, another from Sutrio, and a third from Priola.

• West from Ovaro: This is a very demanding climb, and one of the most difficult in Europe, usually compared to the Alto de El Angliru. It was featured for the first time in the 2007 Giro d'Italia. The climb starts in Ovaro in the Gorto valley, and is 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) long at an average of 11.5% with an elevation gain of 1,210 metres (3,970 ft) and a maximum gradient of 22%. The real climb however starts at Liariis, 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) from the summit. Shortly after the village, the road disappears into forest and gains 900 metres (3,000 ft) in the next 6 kilometres (3.7 mi). After this section, the road passes through three short tunnels, before a series of steep switchbacks immediately beneath the summit. The former rough asphalt between Liariis and the tunnels was replaced in 2007; that between the last tunnel and the summit had already been resurfaced by autumn 2005. The tunnels are now lit.

The Alps near the Zocolan

• East from Sutrio: This is less demanding than the road from Ovaro but it is also a very difficult climb. It was featured for the first time in the 1997 Giro Donne. The actual climb to the summit starts at Sutrio and is 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) long at an average of 9% with an elevation gain of 1,210 metres (3,970 ft) and a maximum gradient being 23%. The most demanding section is the final 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) with an average gradient of 13%.

• East from Priola: This is the original old road which was replaced by the newer road from Sutrio described above. The two roads combine around 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) below the summit. The road from Priola was first asphalted in autumn 2005. From bottom to top, the 8.9 kilometres (5.5 mi) long road gains an astonishing 1,140 metres (3,740 ft), meaning an average gradient of 12.8%. The lower part has sharp hairpin bends and is at times very steep. The climb is briefly flat after merging with the newer road, with the remaining 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) containing several ramps of up to 23% steepness.

[edit]Giro d'Italia

Monte Zoncolan has been featured in the men's Giro d'Italia twice so far. The first time was in Stage 12 of the 2003 Giro d'Italia, won by Gilberto Simoni, using the less difficult road from Sutrio. It was also the last time that Marco Pantani was seen fighting for a stage victory in the Giro d'Italia, launching an unsuccessful attack 3 kilometres from the finish line. Monte Zoncolan was featured for second time in Stage 17 of the 2007 Giro d'Italia, also won by Gilberto Simoni, but this time using the more demanding road from Ovaro. Prior to both of these occasions, the climb was used in Stage 10 of the 1997 Giro Donne, whereFabiana Luperini won en route to the third of her five overall victories. The climb will feature, once again, in the 2010 Giro. The 15th stage will finish at the top, taking the Ovaro, Liariis route.

[edit]Winners of the Monte Zoncolan stage at the Giro d'Italia

Year	Name	Country	Side
2003	Gilberto Simoni	Italy	Sutrio
2007	Gilberto Simoni	Italy	Ovaro

[edit]Winners of the Monte Zoncolan stage at the Giro d'Italia Femminile

Year	Name	Country	Side
1997	Fabiana Luperini	Italy	Sutrio

[edit]References