Monte Zoncolan
Encyclopedia
Monte Zoncolan 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
four times (2003, 2007, 2010, 2011) and the Giro Donne
once (1997). Gilberto Simoni
was the winner of the first two stages finishing on Monte Zoncolan in the men's Giro while Ivan Basso
won in 2010, Igor Antón
won in 2011 and Fabiana Luperini
won at the only visit in the women's race.
The mountain also holds the ski resort of Ravascletto
with 22 km of slopes and a skiable height between 950 and 2000 meters.
, another from Sutrio
, and a third from Priola
.
, won by Gilberto Simoni
, using the road from Sutrio, at the east side of Monte Zoncolan. 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 and finishing in the fifth place, forty-two seconds behind Simoni. Prior to this edition, the climb was used in 10th stage of the 1997 Giro Donne
, where Fabiana Luperini
won en route to the third of her five overall victories.
Monte Zoncolan was featured for a second time in 17th stage of the 2007 Giro d'Italia
, also won by Gilberto Simoni, but this time using the more demanding road from Ovaro. The climb featured once again in the 15th stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia
and Ivan Basso
won the stage, that would eventually prove to be the deciding stage of that year's Giro d'Italia. The last time monte Zoncolan was featured was in the 2011 Giro d'Italia
, during the 14th stage, which was won by Igor Antón, followed by Alberto Contador and Vicenzo Nibali.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in the Carnic Alps
Carnic Alps
The Carnic Alps are a range of the Southern Limestone Alps in East Tyrol, Carinthia, South Tyrol and Friuli . They extend from east to west for about between the Gail River, a tributary of the Drava and the Tagliamento, forming the border between Austria and Italy.They are named after the Roman...
, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli–Venezia Giulia is one of the twenty regions of Italy, and one of five autonomous regions with special statute. The capital is Trieste. It has an area of 7,858 km² and about 1.2 million inhabitants. A natural opening to the sea for many Central European countries, the region is...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
, having been used in the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
four times (2003, 2007, 2010, 2011) and the Giro Donne
Giro d'Italia Femminile
The Giro d'Italia Femminile is one of the Grand Tours in women's cycle road racing. It is currently called the Giro Donne. The Giro Donne is a 10-stage event taking place in Italy in early July each year, which means that it generally competes for attention with the men's Tour de France.With the...
once (1997). Gilberto Simoni
Gilberto Simoni
Gilberto Simoni is an Italian ex-professional road bicycle racer, most recently for . Simoni is twice winner of the Giro d'Italia cycling race...
was the winner of the first two stages finishing on Monte Zoncolan in the men's Giro while Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...
won in 2010, Igor Antón
Igor Antón
Igor Antón Hernández is a Basque professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team Euskaltel-Euskadi....
won in 2011 and Fabiana Luperini
Fabiana Luperini
Fabiana Luperini is an Italian professional cyclist. Luperini has won the Giro d'Italia Femminile a record five times.-Palmarès:1996200020012002200420062008-External links:*...
won at the only visit in the women's race.
The mountain also holds the ski resort of Ravascletto
Ravascletto
Ravascletto is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 120 km northwest of Trieste and about 60 km northwest of Udine. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 601 and an area of 26.3 km².Ravascletto borders the following...
with 22 km of slopes and a skiable height between 950 and 2000 meters.
Details of the climb
The mountain can be climbed on three roads: one from OvaroOvaro
Ovaro is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 120 km northwest of Trieste and about 50 km northwest of Udine...
, another from Sutrio
Sutrio
Sutrio is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 120 km northwest of Trieste and about 60 km northwest of Udine...
, and a third from Priola
Priola
Priola is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 90 km southeast of Turin and about 40 km southeast of Cuneo...
.
- West from Ovaro: This is a very demanding climb, and one of the most difficult in Europe, usually compared to the Alto de El AngliruAlto de El AngliruAlto del Angliru is a steep mountain road in Asturias, near La Vega-Riosa, in northern Spain. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing...
. It was featured for the first time in the 2007 Giro d'Italia2007 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial...
. The climb starts in Ovaro in the Gorto valley, and is 10.1 kilometres (6.3 mi) long at an average of 11.9% with an elevation gain of 1210 metres (3,969.8 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 (2,952.8 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.
- East from Sutrio: This route is less demanding than the road from Ovaro but it is also one of Italy's most challenging climbs. It was featured for the first time in the 1997 Giro DonneGiro d'Italia FemminileThe Giro d'Italia Femminile is one of the Grand Tours in women's cycle road racing. It is currently called the Giro Donne. The Giro Donne is a 10-stage event taking place in Italy in early July each year, which means that it generally competes for attention with the men's Tour de France.With the...
and later in the 2003 Giro d'Italia2003 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni....
. 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 1210 metres (3,969.8 ft) and a maximum gradient being 23%. The first 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi) have an average gradient of 8.7%, followed by a false flat after this section. The most demanding section is the final 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) with an average gradient of 13% and the initial part of the final kilometre at 22% grade.
- 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 1140 metres (3,740.2 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.
Giro d'Italia
Monte Zoncolan has been featured in the men's Giro d'Italia four times so far. The first time was in the 12th stage of the 2003 Giro d'Italia2003 Giro d'Italia
The 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni....
, won by Gilberto Simoni
Gilberto Simoni
Gilberto Simoni is an Italian ex-professional road bicycle racer, most recently for . Simoni is twice winner of the Giro d'Italia cycling race...
, using the road from Sutrio, at the east side of Monte Zoncolan. It was also the last time that Marco Pantani
Marco Pantani
Marco Pantani was an Italian road racing cyclist, widely considered one of the best climbers in professional road bicycle racing...
was seen fighting for a stage victory in the Giro d'Italia, launching an unsuccessful attack 3 kilometres from the finish line and finishing in the fifth place, forty-two seconds behind Simoni. Prior to this edition, the climb was used in 10th stage of the 1997 Giro Donne
Giro d'Italia Femminile
The Giro d'Italia Femminile is one of the Grand Tours in women's cycle road racing. It is currently called the Giro Donne. The Giro Donne is a 10-stage event taking place in Italy in early July each year, which means that it generally competes for attention with the men's Tour de France.With the...
, where Fabiana Luperini
Fabiana Luperini
Fabiana Luperini is an Italian professional cyclist. Luperini has won the Giro d'Italia Femminile a record five times.-Palmarès:1996200020012002200420062008-External links:*...
won en route to the third of her five overall victories.
Monte Zoncolan was featured for a second time in 17th stage of the 2007 Giro d'Italia
2007 Giro d'Italia
The 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial...
, also won by Gilberto Simoni, but this time using the more demanding road from Ovaro. The climb featured once again in the 15th stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia
2010 Giro d'Italia
The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country...
and Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...
won the stage, that would eventually prove to be the deciding stage of that year's Giro d'Italia. The last time monte Zoncolan was featured was in the 2011 Giro d'Italia
2011 Giro d'Italia
The 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.The route was...
, during the 14th stage, which was won by Igor Antón, followed by Alberto Contador and Vicenzo Nibali.
Winners of Monte Zoncolan stage at the Giro d'Italia
| Year | Stage | Name | Side |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 2003 Giro d'Italia The 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.... |
12 | Sutrio Sutrio Sutrio is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 120 km northwest of Trieste and about 60 km northwest of Udine... |
|
| 2007 2007 Giro d'Italia The 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial... |
17 | Ovaro Ovaro Ovaro is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 120 km northwest of Trieste and about 50 km northwest of Udine... |
|
| 2010 2010 Giro d'Italia The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country... |
15 | Ovaro Ovaro Ovaro is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 120 km northwest of Trieste and about 50 km northwest of Udine... |
|
| 2011 2011 Giro d'Italia The 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.The route was... |
14 | Ovaro Ovaro Ovaro is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 120 km northwest of Trieste and about 50 km northwest of Udine... |
Winners of Monte Zoncolan stage at the Giro d'Italia Femminile
| Year | Stage | Name | Side |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 10 | Sutrio Sutrio Sutrio is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 120 km northwest of Trieste and about 60 km northwest of Udine... |