トラモンティディソットの峠・トップ10

Stone of the eighth Alpine regiment with ode of glory and incitement to victory. Placed in 1917.

Forcella Clautana 1430m., secondary pass between the Silisia valley and the Clautana valley.

Also known as Passo Rest, Forcella di Monte Rest is one of the most famous climbs in the Carnic Prealps. Often closed in winter, it connects Val Tramontina with the upper Tagliamento valley. The first time the Giro d'Italia passed through here, in 1974, the Spaniard Santiago Lazcano was the first to reach the top.

Sella Chianzutan is a pass in the Carnic Prealps at around 950 meters above sea level. It can be reached from both San Francesco and Tolmezzo: the latter is the toughest side, although the gradients rarely exceed 10%. Between 2010 and 2020, it was tackled three times by the Giro d'Italia: the first to pass through here were Ludovic Turpin, Sebastian Henao and Giovanni Visconti.

Crucial crossing point between Valcellina and the plain.

For centuries, this pass was the only crossing point for people and herds, who used carts and sleds to barter and sell products from the Cellina Valley to those from the plain. On the trail of the Val Sant'Antonio, between the Ravedis Dam and the "La Crous" pass, you can still see the ruts in the rock where the sleds and carts once passed, along the still-intact stretches of mule track.

Never too steep or busy the Sella Chianzutan rewards cyclists with a nice view at the top. Most of the climb coming from Tolmezzo is spent in the forest, which means few views on the surrounding mountains but also cooling shade. The descent towards Pozzis (and further to San Francesco) allows for incredible speeds!

From the fork, the splendid Strada degli Alpini starts, which I absolutely recommend taking downhill.