The organisers of the Giro del Trentino have promised a big battleground for next year’s race, revealing that a dauntingly-steep hill will debut in pro racing on the third stage of the event.
The race to Prada will conclude with the torturous ascent of the Punta Veleno, which imposes twenty hairpin climbs on the riders, an average gradient of fourteen percent and a section ramping up to eighteen percent. The Hors Categorie climb is ten kilometres in length and the finish comes just 2.7 kilometres after the summit, making it hugely decisive.
According to the organisers, the-then Giro d’Italia race director Vincenzo Torriani checked out the climb in 1972 for possible inclusion in his race, but rejected it as being too difficult. “We can’t do this – it’s too… poisonous,” he said then.
The statement christened the climb, which thereafter became known as ‘Punta Veleno’ (poisonous sting). No professional race has ever tackled it, but each year a ten kilometre extreme event is held there for riders to try to conquer the climb. Reflecting its steepness and difficulties, mountainbikes can also be used for the test.
“With a route like this, the Giro del Trentino will have a memorable day,” stated Stefano Ballardini, who is the chief of the stage committee, “and will bring a great number of fans on the road. This is not an ordinary climb, and those who faced it know that very well…”
The Punta Veleno has been assessed by the Technical Commission of the Italian Federation, who have approved its use in a pro event. As a result, for the first time, riders from the peloton will slug it out on what is likely to be the most decisive stage in the race.
With the Giro d’Italia starting less than three weeks later, the stage and the race itself will be a perfect test of form.
This year’s Giro del Trentino winner was Michele Scarponi (Lampre – ISD), who beat Tiago Machado (Team RadioShack) by seven seconds. He went on to take second overall in the 2011 Giro, beating Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) for the runner-up slot.
The 2012 Giro del Trentino runs from April 17th to 20th.