Monte Zoncolan (West Side)
Monte Zoncolan, located in the Carnic Alps in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy, is one of the most iconic and challenging climbs in professional road cycling. Known for its brutally steep gradients and difficult terrain, it has gained legendary status, particularly for its frequent appearances in the Giro d’Italia. The Ovaro side is the most famous and daunting route up Monte Zoncolan, often described as one of the hardest climbs in Europe. The climb is relentless, with very few opportunities to recover. The first few kilometers are challenging, but after Ravascletto, the gradient intensifies dramatically, making the final 6 kilometers particularly brutal, with hairpin bends and extremely steep pitches. The toughest section is known as the "Wall of Zoncolan," where the gradient stays consistently above 15%, peaking at 22% near the top. Monte Zoncolan first appeared in the Giro d’Italia in 2003, and since then, it has become one of the most feared and respected climbs in the race. For amateur cyclists, Monte Zoncolan is a bucket-list climb, but it’s important to be prepared due to the extreme difficulty. The road is narrow and steep, and there are very few flat sections to recover.
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
City: Ovaro
Distance: 10.2 km
Elevation Gain: 1196 m
Elevation Loss: 14 m
Difficulty: 1686 (Extreme)
FIETS Index: 14.26 FIETS
Avg Grade: 11.93 %
Max cat climb: HC
Min elevation: 534 m
Max elevation: 1729 m
Ride Category: Epic Climb