Valtellina: Gavazzi's first four giants

When you're a professional cyclist and you're born in Valtellina, you probably couldn't accept cycling under a different sky. You get this feeling when talking to Francesco Gavazzi, pro' since 2007 and today at Eolo-Kometa. So after having described Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina, With the rider from Morbegno we begin an ideal long… outing on the most representative climbs of the projectAs we have already said, on some days of the summer, they they will be closed, leaving the road open for bikes…

“They are beautiful roads,” he says, “with less traffic than in Bergamo and Como. You can train well and safely. There are historic climbs that are a pleasure to do and cycle tourism is literally explodingWe don't just have climbs. In fact, parallel to the main road, there are secondary roads on the plain, so there are routes for everyone».

Gavazzi is in Slovenia for the first stage of the race who will see Tadej Pogacar back in the group. With him a good part of the team that ran the Giro: Fortunato and Albanese, Rosa, Ravasi and the young Fancellu who came out well from the Adriatica Ionica Race.

Campo Moro, eyes and heart

Let's start from here, the Campo Moro Pass, tackled a few days ago by the Giro U23The actual climb begins in Lanzada and from there it climbs for 15,1 kilometers. The starting altitude is 977 meters, reaching 1.990 meters, for an elevation gain of 1.013 meters and an average gradient of 6,7 percent (maximum 7,8). 

"Actually the climb begins before Lanzada – says Gavazzi – because for the first stretch you go up the Valmalenco which is rideable. It's not a climb I do often, but for its settings it is one of those that stays with you the mostA Giro finish would be a great fit.

«At Lanzada we really start to climb and At the top there is a series of tunnels, then a small lake and a truly beautiful sceneryI happened to do it again a few months ago, after a long time of not being able to do it, and I reached the top telling myself that I had done the right thing by going.

«There is a square up there, at the foot of the dam that closes the valley, meeting point for hikers who leave their cars and start walkingThe road ends there – concludes Gavazzi – there are probably trails suitable for mountain biking, but the racing bike stops at that square. There is nothing, just fantastic nature».

FOR BIKES ONLY

The Campo Moro climb was already closed in favor of bikes on June 1st and will be closed again July 6th (8am-12pm) and September 7th (same time).

Spluga Pass, a series of hairpin bends

The Spluga Pass is 30,1 kilometers long, starting at an altitude of 329 meters and reaching 2.114 meters, with an altitude difference of 1.795 meters and an average gradient of 7,95 percent (maximum 10,7).

On the Spluga, from the Swiss side, The Giro passed last year in the 20th stage. The climb on which Caruso thanked Pello Bilbao for the great work and then set off towards the victory at Alpe Motta. The Italian side was instead proposed by the Giro d'Italia U23 of 2020, when the riders arrived at Monte Spluga, a couple of kilometers before the summit, with Pidcock winning.

«The Italian side – explains Gavazzi – is very long. The real Spluga starts from Campodolcino. A variant with fewer curves has recently been built, but theThe classic climb features many hairpin bends in just a few kilometers. A climb that allows you to enjoy the view.It doesn't have any impossible stretches, but you pass along the lake, then the village with the stone houses. From Switzerland, it's shorter because it starts at 1.200 meters. But when you get to the lake, with all the mountains around, it really seems like you're in a painting.».

FOR BIKES ONLY

The Spluga Pass it was supposed to be reserved for bikes next July 3rd, but the event was cancelled due to force majeure, it will be cancelled again on September 4th (8am-12pm).

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Passo San Marco, the road home

The San Marco Pass begins in Morbegno at an altitude of 250 meters, is 26,6 kilometers long, and reaches an altitude of 1.992 meters, with an elevation gain of 1.742 meters. The average gradient is 6,5 percent, with a maximum gradient of 12 percent.

«San Marco is my climb – Gavazzi gets excited – I practically live at its feet, even though I'm originally from Talamona, and I do a little bit of it every dayIt's very long and the Giro did it about ten years ago, in a stage that then passed through the province of Bergamo. It's a real climb. Initially it goes up steadily, then it tightens and for 3 kilometers it climbs at 10-12 percent, then it stabilizes.It takes me an hour and 15 minutes, so an amateur can do it in an hour and a half.

«Its characteristic is that when you arrive 3 kilometers from the top, it happens like on the Stelvio: you see the top and you never get there. An ordeal, luckily at least it's sheltered from the wind. Here in the lower valley, it's the most important climb, the one of conquest. It's a bit of a boast.And if you're strong and want to stretch it out, then you can take the long route, going down towards Bergamo, then Lecco and up along the lake."

FOR BIKES ONLY

The Passo San Marco, Gavazzi's home climb, will be closed to traffic. next Saturday (June 18th, 8-11,30am), then at the same time on September 17th.

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Mortirolo, hell or heaven?

We kept the Mortirolo, 1.852 metres above sea level, for last, just to tempt climb loversIt has several sides, each one done in its own way and we will soon discover that riders stay away from the toughest ones in training, who are instead… forced to do it in the race.

The most pedaled fronts are that of Mazzo, then Tovo, Monno, Grosio and the Contador Dritta. Other slopes are discovered periodically, as the base of the pass is immersed in vineyards and orchards, crossed by small roads that flow into the main branches.

"Luckily," Gavazzi smiles, as if having dodged a danger, "it's 70-80 kilometers from my house, so it's out of reach. However when you're on retreat in Livigno, you end up climbing it often, but I only did the Mazzo side while running. I usually go to Grosio, which at least isn't impossibleIt's not that you don't get a workout from Mazzo, but it's just too tough. And compared to other climbs in the area, you don't get any great views because it's all in the woods. You do it because it's historic, but imagine riding with this garage-like ramp in front of your eyes».

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For conquest and for pride

Here comes the difference between those who challenge it to prove something, to themselves or to others, and those who ride a bike for a living and he can stay away from certain… provocations.

«It's certainly like that – admits Gavazzi – To do the Mortirolo you need to be well trained, motivated and have the right relationships. On the bike I have at home, I have the 39x25 and the 27 on another wheel. So I'm at the limit, An amateur should use a 36 or 34 in front. It's long, and you can't get any speed.There are cyclists like dots a few meters apart, but those few meters are seconds and even minutes.

«The Grosio side is the most popular. It's a real climb, you see the valley, you pass a small village with a little churchWe too are looking for new climbs, but it's true that for the type of work we have to do, we never have time to look aroundAnd when it happens, maybe because you're traveling a distance without any specific work, it's a surprise. You see things you didn't think were there and you also understand the cyclists who go up there with their eyes wide openYou climb the Mortirolo because you want to get to the top. To have a photo with the sign or to see the monument to Pantani. It's a pilgrimage for heroes, you pedal and you can't wait to get to the top».

FOR BIKES ONLY

The Mortirolo, a highly sought-after destination, will be closed for 2 hours July 24th with the formula “Only for the bravest”, only for the bravest, from 14pm to 16,30pm. Then again September 1st, from 8,30am to 12,30pm.

It is thelove/hate relationship between the cyclist and the climb, the cyclist and his own bikeWhen you're so tired, your first instinct is to give up or throw it off the cliff. Then you reach the top, you breathe, you realize what you've done, you feel important, you look around, and the miracle happens again. In Valtellina it happens at the top of every climb. Cycling heaven can never become hell.

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