Giro d’Italia Climbs – Montasio Plateau (P013)

The climb from Chiusaforte (altitude 380 metres) starts with relatively gentle gradients of about 2-3%.After 11 kilometres, at Pian della Sega (altitude 660 metres), the demanding climb begins: following a14% gradient, the average slope of the road to Sella Nevea seldom drops below 7.5%. After negotiatingthe several hairpin bends at the foot of Sella Nevea, with an average gradient of 8%, the road leads intothe tourist resort and immediately reaches the junction heading towards the Montasio Plateau (altitude1,143 metres). This is where the really tough stretch begins: the road immediately starts with averagegradients of 13% with stretches of up to 20% for almost 2 kilometres. The two remaining kilometres ofthe road gradually level off, but until the last hectometre near the Montasio Alpine Hut (altitude 1,520metres) the climb is relentless! A truly remarkable undertaking, and congratulations to all those who willsucceed! And for all the excitement of eating Montasio cheese in the alpine hut on the plateau that gavethis Friulian speciality its name.