Stage number 15 of the 107° Tour of Italy, Manerba del Garda-Livigno. Indeed, Livigno (Mottolino). That name in parentheses changes everything. Perhaps even the Giro d'Italia itself.
Mottolino is no stranger to the world of cycling; on the contrary, it's one of the hallmarks of mountain biking. This is where gravity enthusiasts, and not only, from all over the world come to ride or ride down its parabolic curves. This is a real bike park.
Eira + dirt road
Yet, as mentioned, the next Giro will reach its 2.385 meters. We will go up from Livigno and will actually climb the entire Eira Pass. All but about ten meters, maybe even less. In fact, a few meters before the brown sign indicating the pass, you turn right and begin climbing along a dirt road.
The entire final climb at that point will measure 8,2 kilometers and will see gradients of up to 18 percent, on dirt. From Eira to Mottolino, there will be 1.850 meters to the finish. There won't be a single hairpin bend, just a couple of slightly tighter curves. Then, in effect, it will be like a sharp blow, pulling hard toward the sky, through wide meadows, peaks as far as the eye can see, and Livigno, now visible, now hidden, on the right.
“Ballero” biker
David Ballerini He's almost at home up here, like many of his colleagues, since so many of them spend so many weeks of retreat here and know certain streets like the back of their hands. Except that the “Ballero” is also a “failed biker”.
In fact, the man from Como not only comes up here on training with his Specialissima, but when he can he rides a mountain bike. He uses it a lot. And often with top bikers like Samuel Porro, multiple Italian marathon champion.
Davide, we're arriving at Mottolino. Have you been there on a mountain bike?
Yes, yes… Almost every year I go there, at least a couple of times, usually during summer retreats. This summer, in fact, I started again with a week of just mountain biking and I've been there often. And Every now and then I use the bike park area, with its parabolic curves and handrails, to have fun riding down to Livigno.
The Giro d'Italia will clearly climb up there from the Eira Pass. What kind of race do you expect that day?
It will be a very tough stage. In fact, they will go up from Tirano, so they will arrive in Livigno from ForcolaAnd that's a climb of at least an hour and a quarter. A short descent and then we'll head up towards Trepalle.
Trepalle, which is at the top of Passo Eira. What climb is this?
It's not very difficult. It is very regular, its slope is 6-7 percent. It's a climb that, in training, at medium speed, takes about twenty minutes. Then at the top you turn right and take the Mottolino, which is a dirt road. I I think it will be another 10 minutes of climbing from the fork to the top.
And what are these final couple of kilometers like?
I'm not saying a wall, but there are at least a couple of sections that exceed 15 percent. I did it on a mountain bike and it's tough. In theory, you can also go there on a road bike, but it's complicated. Plus, the surface is ruined. Many trucks pass by carrying material for the bike park work.I imagine they'll fix it for the Giro. In winter it's a ski slope.
We saw that this final stretch is uncovered, with no trees. Will there be any risk of wind for you?
Not much, because the road is actually covered (by the mountain itself, ed.). Maybe at the end, which is more open, you could hear it. If anything, the wind will be felt more on the Forcola. The wind is usually favorable in that valley and could make a difference. Otherwise, if it's against you, it gets tough.
If the Eira does not require any special technical features, what gear ratios will be needed for this final stretch?
Good question. I've only been there on a mountain bike, but At a rough estimate I think a 40×32 everything will be needed.
