Sella: “With Zoncolan and Mortirolo the Fedaia is the most difficult climb of the Giro”

The driver from Vicenza talks about the stage that saw him as the winner in 2008 after a very long breakaway. “There were a lot of people, the race director kept pushing people away”

«The Fedaia? It is a cancara climb ».

Like this Emanuele Sella summarizes the ascent at the foot of the Marmolada which on Sunday 22 May 2008 saw him win the Giro.

The one obtained on the Fedaia was the second consecutive success of the “Salbaneo”, who at the time wore the shirt of Bruno Reverberi’s Csf Group Navigare. The day before he had imposed himself on the Verona – Alpe di Pampeago. Then the finish line of the Marmolada, obtained at the end of a grueling stage.

“I immediately went on the run with a group of about ten athletes who also included Bettini,” says the Vicenza, who in that Giro also won the Rovetta – Tirano a few days later.

«I was hunting for the points of the mountain grand prix and that day there were several points up for grabs: Pordoi, San Pellegrino, Giau and Falzarego were climbed. I was out all day, then I attacked shortly after the start of the Fedaia, soon being alone. I remember that there were so many people and that the race director continually leaned out of the car to push away people who were too close ».

«Together with Zoncolan and Mortirolo the Fedaia is a terrible climb», concludes Sella. «And what about Capanna Bill’s” drittone “? Mamma mia, it is deadly! ».

At the Giro, the Fedaia was also faced by Davide Malacarne. It was 2011 and the Conegliano – Gardeccia refuge was run, a stage-monstre, one of the hardest if not the hardest of the Tours designed by Angelo Zomegnan: 229 kilometers of development and 6,200 meters of elevation gain, characterized by the climbs of Piancavallo, Forcella Cibiana, Giau, Fedaia and Gardeccia.

«It was the hardest stage of that Giro and for me the most suffered, probably the most suffered of all my Grand Tours: 6,200 meters in altitude, madness», remembers the former Lamon professional. «The Fedaia is a climb for pure climbers, where those weighing over 65 kilos only have to defend themselves: on these slopes the weight-power ratio has a huge influence. The straight stretch before Malga Ciapela is something incredible: they are the most infernal kilometers of world cycling. But even the following kilometers are no joke. The Belluno-Marmolada? I think a breakaway could go away just before Falcade, but it doesn’t necessarily happen: from Falcade up there is little room to breathe and the pursuers will soon get organized. I believe that an important man will win, probably one of the rankings ».ILARIO TANCON