With Dominic Pozzo alive let's talk about Tour of Italy and, in particular, with him we cannot help but mention the climbs. The climbs of the Giro d'Italia that are looming for next year do not seem impossible, however there are some more challenging asperities And Domenico and I tried to identify four of them. The four most difficult climbs, the ones he believes will shape the overall standings.
It's now established, and we have it already heard from the words of Vincenzo NibaliIt's not a very tough Giro d'Italia. Squalo himself had told us it would be a balanced race, but precisely for this reason we need to understand where this balance could break, where the climbers will be able to inflict gaps on the time trialists, who will have the long time trial stage in Viareggio on their side.
Domenico, so, is Blockhaus the hardest climb of this Giro d'Italia?
The risk is there, However, I have to say that in my opinion the hardest climb, also in terms of the stage and the overall standings, could be the Giau. It is both for its slopes and for the difference in altitude and elevation.
But isn't it far from the finish line?
On a stage like this, anyone wanting to attack from afar can do so from the Giau Pass, but they need companions or a reference point, because the next climb is the Falzarego Pass, which is quite easy from that side. If they organize themselves behind, anyone attempting an attack risks being left with one leg on either side. I used to say that the Giau is too far from the finish line; in this cycling style, I say "neither way," because attacks from afar are more frequent, especially with the help of the team. And then there is another aspect that concerns the Giau
What?
Its gradients and its hardness can influence the final climb of Pian di Pezzè, which we remember is very challenging, but it is a climb that will last 15 minutes at most.
What can you tell us about the Blockhaus?
It remains an extremely challenging climb. Compared to other times, we'll attack a little higher up, not right from the bottom, where there are those extra 5-6 kilometers of interlocutors that aren't difficult but, in the end, matter. However, it's a climb that might cause less havoc than you think.
Why?
Because there are no big climbs beforehand and the risk is that, being a very long stage, an old-style stage in a Giro defined as modern, the big names will control themselves until the end. Another climb, the third in my order of difficulty, which could have an impact is that of Carì, in Switzerland. It's similar to Pila, but a little tougher: in Pila the gradient is around 7 percent, in Carì the gradients are between 8 and 9 percent. The road in both cases is wide and smooth, almost Tour de France-like. However, I'd say that in the end Carì will be more impactful because, compared to Pila, it's much shorter: Pila is almost 20 kilometers, Carì is 8-9. Both stages are short, but the Carì is easier at first, so it risks being a much more explosive climbI'll definitely note this one.
And the fourth climb?
It can only be Piancavallo. It deserves a mention: it's the final stage and the final climb of the Giro d'Italia. It doesn't boast impossible numbers, but it's a challenging climb. The double climb is meant to be reminiscent of the double Grappa climb a couple of years ago, but it's less demanding. On the other hand, this one does reach the summit. Piancavallo, if attacked hard from below, can cause damage: the hardest part is the initial one, then there is even a micro descent at the minus six kilometers.
So Domenico, give us your hardness ranking…
Giau, Blockhaus, Carì and Piancavallo.
Let's look at the order in which these climbs will arrive during the Giro. What scenarios can we expect for each one?
As I mentioned, Blockhaus risks being a waiting stage, a stage where the breakaway arrives. I don't expect the top riders to fight for the jersey as early as stage seven: the race would become difficult to control. The kilometers are long and without any challenging climbs beforehand, Roccaraso is easy, so it will be a stage for attackers. I've already said about Giau: anyone who wants to attack must have a foothold in sight of Falzarego. Overall, this is a very tough stage: there are already other climbs before the Giau and we are in the middle of the third week, when the fatigue takes its toll.
Let's move on. What do you expect from Carì?
It could have a significant impact on the economy of the Giro d'Italia. An explosive climb that comes after the rest day: it can cause chaos. It's almost a Vuelta stage. There could be a spectacle, there could be gaps, especially because on those slopes, attacking early can make a big difference. Not to mention that it comes after the rest day, another unknown.
The last one is Piancavallo…
The showdown. You have to make do with your remaining energy. It must be tackled head-on, especially in the second step. You can also go fast on the first climb, but you'll need a foothold there, because there are 25 kilometers of flat terrain between the first and second climbs. It will also depend a lot on the type of breakaway there is... assuming there is one. It's a climb that, coming towards the end of the Giro, can have a significant impact if tackled hard.
Which are your favorite climbs among these? And what memories do you have?
I'm having a hard time choosing, because there are two of my absolute favorites: Blockhaus and Giau. I'm going to focus on the most recent memory, linked to my "career 2.0," the one after the 2019 accident. On the Blockhaus in 2022, I had one of the few chances to really fight for the win: it didn't happen to me very often anymore. I remember that I went strong and was satisfied with my performance. I was also happy for... Valentino Sciotti Because, in a way, I was racing at his house and his company was a sponsor. But I also have special memories of the Giau.
Tell us about this Dolomite climb…
Giro 2012, I remember exchanging some “fencing blows” with Michele Scarponi. The stage reached Cortina; if I remember correctly, Purito won, and I finished sixth. I started pushing hard on the last kilometer and a half of the Giau, partly because I was a bit behind in the standings: there were only a few of us left, and that was fine with me. In fact, I passed in the lead. I have fond memories of both of these climbs. However, truth be told, there's another climb that should be added.
Please…
In my opinion, as numbers the most difficult climb of this Giro is the Montagna Grande di Viggiano (in the fifth stage, ed.), among other things in my areas of origin and even more in those of Alessandro VerreThe climbs mentioned above will be the steepest, but as an average gradient The Montagna Grande of Viggiano is the only one exceeding 10 percent of the entire Giro d'Italia. And who knows, maybe I'll pop over there before the Giro… maybe I'll even score a KOM!
