Hard stretch near the "Salto della Capra", before Pian dea Bala: on the "della Vedetta" road you will face what is considered the "mortirolo of the Veneto". The first climb, considered one of the most difficult, is known by cyclists precisely by this name, i.e. "The Goat's Jump" due to the characteristic effigy of the animal shaped on the iron which hurls itself against the sky, planted on a pole, almost on the top of the climb, right at the exit on the route coming from Monte Tomba. The average gradient of 10% does not do justice to those 600m of thrilling climb. Cross of those who are forced to get off the bike, delight of their companions who, with the modesty of the cyclist, await them for a pat on the back. The climb begins from via Montegrappa, which is on the left along the Romano d'Ezzelino-Pederobba foothills right next to the Albergo da Romano. At this point we are about 340m above sea level. Continuing along Via Montegrappa you reach Piazza Fietta where at the roundabout you continue straight along Via S.Andrea until you reach, after about 1500 metres, the crossroads with Via San Liberale. The sign leaves no doubt and says "lookout". Then going up to the right, you will find thirty hairpin bends which in about 8 km lead to 1430 meters (average gradient 10.7%). The first nine of these hairpin bends are longer but less demanding (9%), while the most demanding sections (15-17%) are around a hundred metres. From the tenth hairpin, however, it's no joke: it's just under 4 km at 12% which leaves no escape for those who aren't prepared, even if you have a very agile gear. In the few open sections, in the height of summer, even the sun increases fatigue. Counting the hairpin bends can also be useful to know how long it is until the end. The first series of 16 hairpin bends, some very short, has a peak of 17% in the twelfth. The seventeenth has peaks of 20% but ends by softening. This is followed by another series of 8 relatively easy hairpin bends (only the last three at 12%) which precede hairpin no. 26, very hard, 840 meters at 16% but with peaks above 18%. Here lies the key to climbing the hill without putting your foot on the ground. The last four hairpin bends, despite having a respectable average gradient (14%), no longer constitute an obstacle: another 500 meters and we are at the top of La Vedetta! Shortly afterwards you cross the road coming from Monte Tomba and then turning left you quickly descend for about 2.7 km, going around Monte Meate, to the bottom of the Val delle Mure. We are immersed in the typical environment of the Grappa pastures and the road runs along a flat lake, allowing you to calmly enjoy the crisp air and the landscape. Then we start climbing the Val delle Mure again, not decisively, but in spurts interspersed with short slight slopes until the beautiful opening of Pian della Bala. Continuing, the road continues to climb more gently, crossing the overhanging part of Bocaor with daring war tunnels. The road exits again onto the pastures of the Ardosa and Ardosetta huts, now in sight of the Bassano refuge which can be seen at the top right. But you still have to move away from it, towards the south, to join, after 1.5 km, the Giardino road that goes up from Campo Croce. From here another two km with climbs ranging from 11 to 14% until the junction with the Cadorna. We are now passing the area of the Shrine on the left, built in 1935 based on a design by the architect Giovanni Greppi and the sculptor Giannino Castiglioni. But it's too high up and we don't see it. Instead we can see the monument to the partisans, a bronze statue built in 1974 by Augusto Murer. The Monte Grappa refuge is also there in front of us, beautiful and imposing which seems to survey the entire area below. But before arriving at the refuge, on the left you can see the Milan barracks, built during the war to house the personnel assigned to the roadworks and fortifications of the Grappa. It seems to hide in the rock, but its presence seems to enhance this place even more. We have finally conquered this stupendous peak, and if time permits, the view is nothing short of sublime. It almost seems like being at the end of the world, and the plain seems to disappear on the horizon. It's a unique emotion that leaves its mark.