Passo Coe

The charm of this place is instantly apparent at Castel Beseno, the fortified citadel overlooking the road that clings to the rocky ridge. Riding on a fairly steep segment of road, two and a half kilometres later you reach Dietro Beseno, where the road becomes more gentle on the legs, just enough to catch your breath for a few hundred metres. At the bridge to Folgaria the ride starts getting serious as you are faced with 8 truly challenging kilometres, the toughest of the entire ascent, marked by two hairpin turns between the two hamlets of Mezzomonte. It was on this road that, in 2002, the “falcon” Paolo Savoldelli took flight to win the pink jersey of the Giro d’Italia.

While you arrive in Folgaria, you can’t help be startled by the nature that opens onto a plateau famous for its ski slopes and hiking excursions in summer. But these places were also the scene of bloody battles between the armies of the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian monarchy during the Great War.

At Folgaria the road to Passo Coe makes a turn to the right. Here you can pedal smoothly through the meadows. The first four kilometres allow you to appreciate the mountains that frame the landscape, while the last 3 and a half demand your fullest concentration: you still need some energy to get to the top, tired but satisfied.