The climb, despite the mileage being nearly 23 km, is not difficult. The important thing is not to get caught by the urge to overdo. After such a prolonged effort, even the slightest slopes take their toll. The first kilometres are gentle, then the climb starts getting serious. To the left is the Lagorai chain, while to the right we have the Pale di San Martino, one of nine mountain ranges included in the Unesco’s list of natural World Heritage sites. A few hairpin turns break the climb. The toughest stretch comes after about 8 kilometres, but it is only a few hundred meters long. After about 14 km you pass through San Martino di Castrozza, a tourist destination of considerable charm. There are still 9 kilometres left to get to the top, with the steepest segment when exiting the town. Then the climb is even, with the road that embraces the mountain in a long series of hairpin turns. The arrival flattens out in a depression of meadows among the valleys of the Travignolo and Cismon torrents. In the background the Pale di San Martino, severe keepers of pastures, trenches, legendary climbing feats and nowadays a tourist attraction made of slopes to be skied and rocks to be climbed.