Michele Scarponi, who was going to be the leading man for his team Astana, just died a few weeks before the start of the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia. His team decided to start with 8 riders instead of the usual 9 as a tribute to him. The Giro d’Italia cannot possibly forget a big champion, friend and a fantastic person like Scarponi. He was the overall winner in the Giro back in 2011. Therefore, the organization assigned the climb of the Mortirolo in stage 16 to him “Salita Scarponi”. In 2010 this was the springboard to Michele’s last stage victory at the Giro d’Italia at Aprica. He was ahead of Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali.
Climbs
spectacular climb
- Switzerland
- 2.091m
- 12.7km
The Gotthard Pass (2.091m) is maybe one of the most spectacular climbs in cycling. A main road continues over the pass, but don’t make the mistake of following the road traffic because you will miss one of the most astonishing sections of road in Europe. At the foot of the...
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Monstrous challenge of 40.7km
- Spain
- 3.395m
- 40.7km
Pico de Veleta (3.395m) is the highest paved road in Europe. This is a road in the Spanish Sierra Neveda that finishes at the summit, basically a climb to nowhere, a one-way journey of suffering. You will gain 2.600 meters of elevation, which is more than twice the ascent of...
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