1210 hm
Ascent
10.5 km
Distance Ascent
22 %
max. gradient
11.5 %
ø gradient
22% gradient. On tarmac. In the professional peloton. Monte Zoncolan in Friuli isn’t a normal climb. It’s the limit of what’s rideable on a road bike.
The Route
Two sides, two completely different experiences. The east side from Ovaro is the brutal one: 10.1 km, 1,210 metres of elevation, 12% average. That alone sounds tough. But it only gets real when you see the ramps between kilometre 3 and 7: a relentless 14-22%, sections where you can barely make progress even standing on the pedals. No flat stretch, no respite. The road is narrow, the surface rough, the trees so dense that barely any light gets through.
The west side from Sutrio is “easier”. 13.5 km, 8.5% average. Still a serious climb, but without the savage ramps. Wider road, better surface, more views. Most amateur riders choose this side. No judgement.
At the top: a ski station, a café, and a view across the Carnic Alps. If you made it up the east side, that espresso tastes a little sweeter.
History and Cycling
The Giro d’Italia discovered the Zoncolan in 2003. Since then it’s been a regular feature in the route, and every time it’s a battlefield. Gilberto Simoni won the first summit finish, Ivan Basso dominated in 2010, Chris Froome destroyed the field in 2018 on the east side with an 80 km solo breakaway.
The east side is considered one of the three steepest paved climbs in Europe, alongside the Angliru and the Muro di Sormano. But unlike both of those, the Zoncolan is long. 10 kilometres at this gradient. That’s what makes the difference.
Tips for Cyclists
A compact chainset is the absolute minimum. 34/32 or lower. Anything else is overconfidence. The east side demands constant out-of-the-saddle riding on the steepest sections. If you haven’t trained for that, you’ll be walking.
Best time: June to September. The road is narrow with little traffic. Water is available in Ovaro (east side start) and at the ski station at the top. Nothing in between. Start in the morning: the east side stays in shade until midday. In the afternoon, the tight forest passages can get uncomfortably humid.