The pink race could be decided on the ascent of the Fedaia on Saturday 28 May. Last May it was canceled due to the prohibitive weather conditions
Last May 24 it was canceled by bad weather, next May 28 could be the climb that will decide the fate of the Giro d’Italia number 105.
We are talking about the Marmolada, the terrible ascent that from Rocca Pietore leads to the Fedaia pass: 14 kilometers of development for 1 062 meters in altitude, 7. 6 percent of average gradient, with peaks at 18 percent, the most difficult concentrated part in the last five kilometers, those after Malga Ciapela.
From the (few, very few compared to the past) rumors that have leaked in these hours, the Fedaia could be the arrival site of the penultimate stage of next year’s Giro d’Italia, a Giro that, it seems, should find in the North East, between Veneto and Friuli, its resolution.
As already anticipated on these pages in recent days, on Friday 27 May the Lignano – Valli del Natisone should run. The following day the dolomite fraction and Sunday 29 the conclusion in Verona.
There are no certainties but the prices of the North East for a very high intensity finish are important. In this scenario, the province of Belluno should play an important role: we had worked for Valbelluna and Alpago as well as for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo but the hypothesis that at the moment seems more plausible is precisely that of the Marmolada. Ascent that last year should have been one of the most interesting moments of Sacile-Cortina but which, due to adverse weather conditions (cold, rain and snow), had been cut, together with Pordoi. Next year could be a whole other music.
If the Marmolada idea (the arrival in Agordino is part of a multi-year project to have the pink race in the province) materializes, for fans it will be, even if they do not travel the beautiful “Serrai”, impracticable after the Vaia storms, a very interesting opportunity.
As it was in 2008, when on 25 May the Arabba – Passo Fedaia was raced, a fraction (the fifteenth of that Giro) of 153 kilometers which also included Pordoi, San Pellegrino, Giau and Falzarego.
Winning that day was Emanuele Sella from Vicenza (winner also the day before at Alpe di Pampeago) who won with 2’05 ”over teammate Domenico Pozzovivo and 2’10” over Riccardo Riccò. To wear the pink jersey at the start of Arabba was the Lombard Gabriele Bosisio, but the insignia of the primacy at the top of the Fedaia passed on the shoulders of the Spanish champion Alberto Contador, who led them to the final triumph in Milan.
The Marmolada discovered by the Giro in 1969, but it remained only on paper. On 5 June, the day of the Trento – Marmolada – Malga Ciapela (twentieth fraction) the weather was adverse and the stage was canceled after attempts to find an alternative route and protests from the runners. The patron of the pink race, Vincenzo Torriani, tried, with success, the following year: here at the 1970 Giro the Arta Terme – Marmolada (Malga Ciapela), a stage that also included the ascents to Mauria, Forcella Cibiana and Forcella Staulanza. The winner was Michele Dancelli in front of Bitossi arrives at thirteen seconds, the Belgians Martin Van Den Bossche and Eddy Merckx (pink jersey and then winner of the Giro) and Gimondi.
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