The Fedaia Pass (2,057 m) is an Alpine pass in the Dolomites, marking the border between Trentino(-Alto Adige) and Belluno (Veneto), connecting the Val di Fassa to the Agordino, at the foot of the Marmolada.
At the summit, there’s a plateau of about 2.5 kilometers, running along an artificial lake, Lake Fedaia, used for the production of hydroelectric energy.
The Fedaia, often called “Marmolada”, is well known among cyclists, especially for the hard eastern (Belluno) ascend.
Giro d’Italia
The Fedaia has been in a Giro d’Italia stage 15 times since 1975, lastly in 2022.
In 2008 and 2022 it was a stage finish, but it has never been awarded the Cima Coppi.
Canazei
This ascent of the Fedaia is by far the easier one – I used it as a recovery in 2011.
As I stated at the time:
“This pass is not so bad from that – Canazei – end – from the other side, starting in Caprile, it looks much worse.”
As I found out in 2015…
The ascent is 10.8 kilometers long, with a D+ of 612 meters, or a 5.7% average.
However, the second half is averaging 7.7% with a kilometer at 8.6% and a max of 10% – not what I would consider a recovery nowadays.
Anyway, that time in 2011 was the only ascend I did from this end.
Caprile
Although it’s only 2 kilometers longer than the Canazei ascent, this one is brutal.
In 2015’s report, I wrote:
“I hadn’t looked at the profile of the Fedaia – I just knew it was supposed to be “more challenging” than the climb from the other end, which was more or less a recovery ride in 2011.”
Well, this end is most famous for Malga Ciapela straight: about three kilometers at an average of over 12% and a maximum of 15%.
In fact, the last 5 kilometers average 11.2% – it is one of the most difficult sections of all the Dolomite climbs, equal to the final of Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Apparently the Malga Ciapela section allows for very high downhill speeds, the pros even hitting over 100 kilometers per hour.
I must get back and try that one day 😁
