Monte Zoncolan

Monte Zoncolan
Elevation 1,750 m (5,740 ft)
Location
Monte Zoncolan

Alps

Location Italy
Range Carnic Alps
Coordinates 46°30′0″N 12°55′0″E / 46.50000°N 12.91667°ECoordinates: 46°30′0″N 12°55′0″E / 46.50000°N 12.91667°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 five times (2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014) 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, Michael Rogers won in 2014 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 m.[1]

Details of the climb

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

Profile of Monte Zoncolan from Sutrio.
Profile of Monte Zoncolan from Ovaro.

Giro d'Italia

Monte Zoncolan has been featured in the men's Giro d'Italia five times so far. The first time was in the 12th stage of the 2003 Giro d'Italia, 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.[6] 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. Zoncolan featured in the 2011 Giro d'Italia, during the 14th stage, which was won by Igor Antón, followed by Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali. The last time monte Zoncolan was featured was in the 2014 Giro d'Italia, during the 20th stage, which was won by Michael Rogers.

Monte Zoncolan near the summit.

Winners of Monte Zoncolan stage at the Giro d'Italia

Year Stage Name Side
2003 12  Simoni, GilbertoGilberto Simoni (ITA) Sutrio
2007 17  Simoni, GilbertoGilberto Simoni (ITA) Ovaro
2010 15  Basso, IvanIvan Basso (ITA) Ovaro
2011 14  Antón, IgorIgor Antón (ESP) Ovaro
2014 20  Rogers, MichaelMichael Rogers (AUS) Ovaro

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

Year Stage Name Side
1997 10  Luperini, FabianaFabiana Luperini (ITA) Sutrio

References

External links