Monte Zoncolan, the most important stage of the Giro so far and the most fearsome summit finishes. It’s man vs road for 10 kilometres.
The Route
Warms up steadily before with four categorised climbs before the day’s end. That get progressively more difficult. The opening 40km are gentle until the Monte di Ragogna, which has gradients steadily rising over 10% for the first 2.5 km, and ramps topping out at 16%. The intermediate sprint follows shortly after at Forgalia Nel Fruti and then there’s a mix of flat road and gently rolling terrain before an uncategorised climb at Ponte Avons and then a descent into the day’s second climb at Avaglio.
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The route then takes the road to Paularo, the second intermediate sprint of the day, (with some tunnels along the way), and then the day’s second category climb, Passo Duron. The climb is short yet steep, 4.4 kilometres at 9.8% and a proper test even If just 50 kilometres out. The route drops down into Sutrio and takes in the Sella Valcalda climb, 7.6 kilometres at 5.6%, but tougher in reality as the first 2.5 kilometres are nothing, but a warmup and the rest of the climb doesn’t dip below 6%.
It’s then a descent before the mighty Zoncolan.
The Zoncolan
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10 kilometres at an average gradient of 11.9%, the Zoncolan is one of the world’s most fearsome climbs. To compare with other great names, L’Angliru in Spain climbs 12.2 kilometres and averages 10.2%. The Mortirolo averages 10.5 per cent over 12.4km, Mont Venotux is 15.7 kilometres and averages 8.8%, and the Passo Gavia 7.9% over 17.3km.
The riders take a right turn out of Ovaro and climb into the village of Liariis when the gradient becomes infernal. Here are four straight kilometres that average 15.4%, all on narrow roads that soon become exposed as trees were cut down to give better helicopter shots. With 3 kilometres left to the finish, two (left-right) hairpins alternate with an almost flat sector (yes, there is one)
There’s then a turn onto the mountain proper and three short tunnels before the following 2 kilometres at 13.9%. The last hairpin is 16% and comes with just 250 metres to go but the final 250 metres are still 10.6%.
Any weaknesses are exposed here as this is a pure test of weight and power and every gram counts, which makes for a gripping spectacle although there’s not many changes in speed.
The History
This will be the sixth time that Monte Zoncolan has been used as a finish in the men’s Giro d’Italia. What? Yes, the men’s race. In 1997 the Giro Donne was the first race to visit and the legendary Fabiana Luperini took the overall prize that year, one of five times she won the race overall.
The race climbed the mountain before in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2014. In 2014 Michael Rogers and Francesco Bongiorno had a slow motion fight up the slopes, with the latter suffering interference from the crowd with three kilometres to go, ending his chances of success on the stage. In 2011 s parcours was shortened by 35km due to the removal of the Monte Crostis - it was deemed too unsafe to include on the route – and then the Tualis was also taken out before Igor Anton beat maglia rosa Alberto Contador by 33 seconds with Vincenzo Nibali 40 seconds behind.
The Contenders
Mitchelton’s Simon Yates has taken the race by the scruff of the neck and this is a big weekend for him because the time trial is looming on Monday, where he expects to lose 4 seconds per kilometres to Tom Dumolin (who’s currently 47 seconds behind him at the time of writing) over 35.4 kilometres.
Yates is clearly the most in form rider in the race, having taken two stages with powerful late kicks including an opportunistic late blast through the streets of Osimo. This is an altogether different test but he was best on Etna, timed his challenge late on the Gran Sasso and is riding brilliantly right now.
He has form for extremely steep gradients – he was sixth in the 2016 Vuelta when he was ninth on the climb upwards to Lagos de Covadonga (12.2km at 7.2%.) and then he was 14th on the Angilru (12.2km at 10.2%) although this is new territory.
Dumoulin has excellent Vuelta form and was on Yates’ tail through Osimo although the leader might be encouraged by how he was just gapped on the Gran Sasso to the tune of 12 seconds.
Thibaut Pinot is still on the scene and has finished third, second, third and seventh in the four stages that the Magalia Rosa contenders have fought out and the FDJ man is at least solid even if he’s not gapped others in the style Yates has, and a light season could work to his advantage here. Richard Carapaz grabbed his chance on the Montevergine di Mercogliano but that was no fluke and Movistar’s man is still 1;21 ahead of Miguel Angel Lopez in the race for the white jersey. Lopez has been a disappointment so far by his exalted standards and Astana have not been at their best – will he be backed ahead of Pello Bilbao, who’s still in the top 10?
Team Sky’s Giro woes continue as Chris Froome continues to go backwards and this climb doesn’t appear suited to him – a recovery wouldn’t be out of the ordinary but there have been 14 stages and either he is leaving his peak late or he just isn’t the same rider that dominated last summer and the former looks more likely.
Domenico Pozzovio is within striking distance in fourth and the Bahrain-Merida rider has been up here before, finishing 24th in 2014 on his way to sixth overall. He appears as good as ever today and this weekend is pivotal for the pint-sized climber – the podium is within reach but he’ll lose more time than most on Monday.
A breakaway won the last time we went here and there are enough mountain points for this to be of interest for an escape. Androni - Sidermec – Bottecchia have made every single break so far and Fausto Masanada has been responsible for many of those. He was caught late on the Gran Sasso and he’s fourth in the blue mountains jersey, behind Simon Yates, Chaves and Pinot, so the points have to be of interest in an escape.
Bardiani – CSFS Gulio Ciiccione went even closer on Stage 9 and is also close enough to play a part in the mountains jersey competition too. He was also part of an impressive Escape on Etna, and can handle steep gradients. Trek haven’t had the greatest fo Giro’s but Jarlinson Pantano is totally capable if he’s on a going day.
BMC’s Alessandro De Marchi has been active and would give them a good card to play although Nicholas Roche could try and dd to the Irish success whilst UAE-Emirates haven’t had much success with Fabio Aru but Diego Ulissi and Valerio Conti are both cards to put into the break.
