アイゾーネの峠・トップ20

https://youtu.be/hC4eceIyyMw?si=515BXh8fRIHsMTkt At the top, there's a wooden stall with snacks and drinks; that's it, a road pass.

great view

A very challenging climb with asphalt in very poor condition.

I was really looking forward to going up to the Santuario della Madonna del Colletto. I had been to this area several times and had not had the opportunity to go up here. So on the trip through Piedmont in July 2022 I made sure that the planned route passed through here. We went up the western slope, the one used by the Giro d'Italia when it first went up here in 1999, on the famous stage where the Fauniera was climbed, with the spectacle of Pantani climbing and the stratospheric descent of Paolo Savoldelli. I have to admit that the climb itself is not very attractive. Once you leave the village of Festiona behind, you enter a forest and there are hardly any views over the valley. You can only focus on the road, its curves, straights (which there are) and difficult slopes. The asphalt is old, with a lot of gravel and very uneven, which obviously adds difficulty to the climb. The climb up the western side is 7.1 km, 576 metres of elevation and an average gradient of 8.1%. Therefore, it is very hard!! And there are several sections above 12%, especially in the first kilometres, where the gradient is irregular, with very hard sections and small rest areas. The views of the Valdieri valley from the Sanctuary are very beautiful, and also of all the mountains covered with forests and vegetation in the surroundings. We took advantage of the porch at the entrance to the Sanctuary to take shelter from the sun and the heat, and to stock up on food and eat some spectacular sandwiches. I remember it fondly. Below is the altimetry of the climb published by @cyclingcols, the best in these matters --> http://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Colletto

I have done this stretch uphill and downhill... and the perspective is completely different. The first time I crossed it was on my way up to Fauniera from Demonte. I remember it with great emotion. Going up to Fauniera after having climbed Colle della Lombarda in Italy was very hard. Also the weather was not on my side because during the whole climb it was unbearably hot and just as I reached the top a thunderstorm and very strong hail started. I crossed this stretch of rocks in thick fog but knowing that I was going through a corridor of rocks. I remember being amazed and very excited because I was about to reach the top of Fauniera. The second time I crossed it was downhill on a splendid summer day with blue sky and heat. The views of the road through the rocks are impressive. Now it is only up to you to visit it for the first time... or again. I want to go back... and I hope to do it by bike.

For a spectacular ascent and a thrilling descent, I would always recommend the route from Italy to France, if you can choose and plan it yourself. A beautiful valley with stunning views on narrow roads in Italy is a great place to enjoy at a slow pace. Wide, well-maintained roads in France make for a relatively safe descent.

One of the hardest climbs ever in Piedmont, and above all we must not underestimate the descent which is very technical.

In an area like this you don’t want to stop cycling