Zoncolan

Monte Zoncolan


As part of my Giro d’Italia of 2011, the infamous Monte Zoncolan (1,750 meters) was included in the road book.

I took on the ascend from Ovaro, after a three hour drive to get there – shortly before 1pm, with a temperature of well over 30 degrees Celsius at the foot, I got on my bike.

The fatigue from the stages the days before, coupled with the temperature – rising to 37 degrees while climbing – made this the only ascend to date, during which I thought several times that I would not make it…

Report here.

For the Giro of 2015, I considered a new attempt at the Monte Zoncolan – better prepared this time – but I wisely put a lid on that.

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Giro d’Italia 2011 – Recap

At the end of 2010, the first ideas for a trip to the Italian Alps arose. Since his “storming” of the Stelvio in 2008, Cyclopaat wanted to go back for more.

He went on a – rigorous – diet, became a little bit overconfident while planning the stages of the trip, but eventually had his first “Grand Tour”, a Giro d’Italia of his own making…

So, here’s a short recap with some stats of his Giro.

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Giro d’Italia 2011 – Stage 5

Monte Zoncolan

GPS of the ZoncolanZoncolan info page

We were moving to Mestre today, to participate in the Open European Mahjong Championship.

But since C. insisted he should definitely climb the Monte Zoncolan, they made a ‘little’ detour to Ovaro.

After all, it didn’t look that much of a detour on the map, but on Italian (secondary) roads…

He should have known from the transfer two days before from Vipiteno to Longega for the Furcia.

So, after another 3 hour drive, he was actually not so fresh anymore, but now that they were here anyway, he might as well go for it…

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Italy 2011 – D-Day

Giro d’Italia 2011 – D-Day

Toerbeest and Cyclopaat are leaving for Italy later today for their own version of the Giro d’Italia 2011.

For first time (foreign) visitors: the latter is Robert, the former is Paula, who will support C. during his bicycling trips.

She will follow him by car, take pictures, shoot movies and provide him with supplies (varying form food to dry clothes).

All-in-all she’s probably delivering a bigger effort than our self declared cycling hero…

Anyway, first stop will be the Albergo Bräuhaus in San Pietro (Lajen, Bolzano) – from there, C. will conquer some high altitude passes and on Sunday he will enjoy a (car and motor bike free) Sella Ronda Bike Day with 4 mountain passes.

On their way to Mestre for the Open European Mahjong Championship (OEMC 2011, July 7 ~ 10), they will stop in Ovaro so C. can climb the fearsome Monte Zoncolan.

After the OEMC, they will head back to Nothern Italy, to the Alpen Hotel Chalet in Valdidentro. On their way there, they will stop in Mazzo di Valtellina, so C. can climb the Mortirolo.

Other passes on the menu are the Gavia, Stelvio and Umbrail.

On a – sort of – regular basis, depending on just how worn out C. will be at the end of each day, you will find new blog posts here, so be sure to check these pages on an equally (ir)regular basis 🙂

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