Killing Monte Zoncolan: Monte Zoncolan

Monte Zoncolan returns to Giro d'Italia. This is the fifth time Monte Zoncolan appears in the Giro d'Italia.

The mountain can be climbed on three roads: one from Ovaro, another (easier) from Sutrio, and a third tough climb from Priola. The first time was 2003 when the pack climbed from the "easy" east side from Sutrio. The terrific ascent from Ovaro has been in the Giro programme in 2007, 2010, and 2011. The climb from Priola has never appeared in the Giro.

The 20014 stage finish on May 31st will be on the top of Zoncolan after the tremendous climb from west, from Ovaro.

West from Ovaro: This is a very demanding climb, and one of the most difficult in Europe, usually compared to the Alto de El Angliru. It was featured for the first time in the 2007 Giro d'Italia. The climb starts in Ovaro in the Gorto valley, and is 10.1 kilometres (6.3 mi) long at an average of 11.9% with an elevation gain of 1,210 metres (3,970 ft) and a maximum gradient of 22%. The real climb however starts at Liariis, 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) from the summit. Shortly after the village, the road disappears into forest and gains 900 metres (3,000 ft) in the next 6 kilometres (3.7 mi). After this section, the road passes through three short tunnels, before a series of steep switchbacks immediately beneath the summit. The former rough asphalt between Liariis and the tunnels was replaced in 2007; that between the last tunnel and the summit had already been resurfaced by autumn 2005. (Wikipedia)

Profile of Monte Zoncolan (click the profile to enlarge)

Profile Monte Zoncolan

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Monte Zoncolan in Giro d'Italia

Monte Zoncolan has been featured in the men's Giro d'Italia four times so far. The first time was in the 12th stage of the 2003 Giro d'Italia, won by Gilberto Simoni, using the road from Sutrio, at the east side of Monte Zoncolan. It was also the last time that Marco Pantani was seen fighting for a stage victory in the Giro d'Italia, launching an unsuccessful attack 3 kilometres from the finish line and finishing in the fifth place, forty-two seconds behind Simoni. Prior to this edition, the climb was used in 10th stage of the 1997 Giro Donne, where Fabiana Luperini won en route to the third of her five overall victories.

Monte Zoncolan was featured for a second time in 17th stage of the 2007 Giro d'Italia, also won by Gilberto Simoni, but this time using the more demanding road from Ovaro. The climb featured once again in the 15th stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia and Ivan Basso won the stage, that would eventually prove to be the deciding stage of that year's Giro d'Italia. The last time monte Zoncolan was featured was in the 2011 Giro d'Italia, during the 14th stage, which was won by Igor Antón, followed by Alberto Contador and Vicenzo Nibali. (Wikipedia)

Winners of Monte Zoncolan stage at the Giro d'Italia

Year	Stage	Name	Side
2003	12	Simoni, GilbertoGilberto Simoni (ITA)	Sutrio
2007	17	Simoni, GilbertoGilberto Simoni (ITA)	Ovaro
2010	15	Basso, IvanIvan Basso (ITA)	Ovaro
2011	14	Antón, IgorIgor Antón (ESP)	Ovaro

2003 Giro d'Italia - Stage 12
- Thursday, May 22: San Donà di Piave - Monte Zoncolan, 185 km

Stage profile

Results

1 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Team Saeco                      5.10.30 
2 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI              0.34
3 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Lampre                        0.39
4 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago          0.42
5 Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno - Scanavino            0.43
6 Julio A. Perez Cuapio (Mex) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo     1.05
7 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Alessio                                1.07
8 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                1.20
9 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa) Fassa Bortolo               1.30
10 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Fassa Bortolo                         1.31

See the great report about the stage at cyclingnews.com

2007 Giro d'Italia - Stage 17
- Wednesday, May 30: Lienz (Austria) - Monte Zoncolan, 142 km

Stage map

Stage profile

Zoncolan profile

Results

1 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir                           3.51.52 
2 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir                                  
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC                                               0.07 
4 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                             0.31 
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital                                    0.37 
6 Massimo Codol (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo                        0.58 
7 Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex) Ceramica Panaria - Navigare              1.19 
8 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas                                          1.40 
9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - Fondital                                  1.57 
10 Ivan Ramiro Parra Pinto (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone          2.02 
11 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                           2.08 
12 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir                              2.11 
13 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana                                              2.26 
14 Mario Aerts (Bel) Predictor - Lotto                                      2.38 
15 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Ceramica Panaria - Navigare                      2.41 
16 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quickstep - Innergetic                               2.43 
17 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Predictor - Lotto                                2.55 
18 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française des Jeux                                 3.22 
19 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit System                                3.27 
20 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo                    3.35

Look at the great picture of Jussi Veikkanen here: Jussi Veikkanen (FJD) struggles at Monte Zoncolan.

See the great report about the stage here: www.cyclingnews.com

2010 Giro d'Italia - Stage 15

- Sunday, May 23: Mestre - Zoncolan, 222 km