By Bike

Ovaro to Pocol via Monte Zoncolan

Part 1

A dawn raid on the legendary climb of the Giro d’Italia.

Weather check – clear and cold. Note – will need thermals. Restless night. Fear of the mountain. Totally under prepared. In case your wondering, here’s its profile… distance 10km, average gradient 11.9%, max 21%.Head off 6:11. Warmer than anticipated. Hoping to take @2.5 hrs and be back in time for breakfast.

1km to start of climb. Not the ideal warm up, but can’t wait. Stop at the base to shed some clothes and do some token stretches. Still too nervous, have to go.

1.5km in @10minutes. I think I can do this. Reality check! Official start sign at Liariis. Short false flat round a bend, then wham, a lane that looks like a wall! Over 17%.

I crawl upwards. By the first bend I’m cooked. Shed more clothes. Discover I forgot to fill my bidon. 3/4 full. Hope it will get me there. Plenty of food. I set off again.

A great paradox in cycling is that in order to go forward, one has to continually go up and down and round and round on the same spot. Ironic for one like me who loathes any form of repetition, routine or standing still.

So it was quite disconcerting to discover a moment (read incline @21%) when rotation of the cranks produced no forward movement. The Garmin showed 0.00km/hr. How could this be? I was still upright. Thankfully, it then kicked up to 3.4. At about this time the front wheel also lifted. I adjusted my posture over the bars to give more stability.

Every 400-500m along the route I see these wonderful big posters of past cycling champions. (Fortunately) the stories are in Italian so I’m not distracted. Other than noting that the pros fly up the mountain non-stop on a 39/25 combination in under 45 minutes. I’m struggling on a 34/32 combo to make it in 2hrs!

I plod on, out of my saddle, pretending to dance like Alberto Contador, but more like grinding endless step-ups. I keep trying different positions, using different techniques and muscles to make it less painful. Mainly, it’s to deflect thoughts about whether it will ever end. Still, at some point I find a rhythm. It’s simple and methodical, like climbing on foot – one step in front of the other – up and down, round and round.

Eventually, some respite. A flattening out, some narrow tunnels, a final steep pinch…

At last, the summit …After 2:06 hours, a short stay at the top to enjoy the views. Little time to reflect – it’s too cold to hang around.

A harrowing descent, screeching brakes and a dash to my hotel.

Part 2

I liked the look of S465. It was at least 20km shorter than the route that I had planned, and held the promise of less traffic (the roads have been very busy at times).

All good for a while – quiet, beautiful scenery and a gentle incline that snaked its way up the valley. But of course, not so easy. Besides Zoncolan having taken the stuffing out of me, the road starts to steepen and tops out at 1760m!I’m rewarded though with great views, a wholesome lunch and a hair raising descent.

The last 30km to Pocol is a slog. It’s nearly all uphill, and I’m totally spent. Lots of stops for food, drink or rests. I discover a wonderful rail trail. No traffic for a few kms.A final push up to Pocol… a last snap of the wonderful evening panorama …

According to Garmin 

Total distance: 125km

Max speed: 66.09km/hr

Calories burned: 5392

Ascent: 3546m

Descent: 2519m

(Footnote: total ascent for 3 days = 8845m, same height as Mt Everest!)