Installation Kit Convert Trycicle Electric

Colle delle Finestre, "Dust, fatigue and sweat"

Published in the journal n.37 bracket.
Photo: Sergi Ros

The Giro teaches us new things. Innova looking back, remembering the best of times past. Asphalt modernity relegated the romance of the road dust and stones. Who does not remember the time when the Gavia still had sections unpaved, and you do not look back far back to recall the stages of this year in Montalcino, the "strade bianche" of Tuscany, or the time trial at Plan di Corones have already tried the same counter in 2008. And one of the first innovations of this century looking for unpaved areas, was the climb to Colle de Finestre in the Giro 2005.

The stage was perfectly designed, since the rise was partly the unpaved side later we shall see, and fall perfectly paved, not to take too many risks. The end was in Sestriere (where he won the Venezuelan Jose Rujano) in a final is not too hard and also evokes another historic Tour de 1992, Claudio Chiappucci resounding victory on Italian soil, before a Indurain that day suffered a pájaras of the few who remember him.

The Finestre Colle begins in the Italian town of Susa, right next to the natural border with France which is the Col de Mont Cenis (Mt Cenisio in Italian). Susa is embedded in a very steep valley. The highest peaks that are far away are still snow in late June, when we made this climb so special.

The climb has a first part with lots of hairpin curves that are helping to gain altitude quickly. The principle is surely the most hard, to step by Meana di Susa with a mile to 11.3%. The climb is very consistent in its slope and its path-curve, a reverse curve, a reverse. The road is very narrow and very closed forest. The sun can barely squeeze through much vegetation and only when we gain altitude we can see a spectacular view over the valley of Susa. The landscape changes abruptly and we're getting to the most feared of the climb.

When the pavement ends, a curious green sign indicates that begins the "Strada del Colle delle Finestre, when it begins precisely where the" sterrato "(dirt road). That went through a time tunnel. The green color of vegetation change by the brown of the earth and turn color photos into black and white. While climbing I remember the television images of the stage Giro 2005, which also played with black and white. How well does that the Giro. Danilo Di Luca dressed in white coming up with features horseshoes Finestre the background while the foreground is unmade ground. Historical moments that we now live in person.

The infamous soil quality is probably worse than the gravel layer which is coated with this rise in 2005. It's a wide track, yes, but to get 100% effort to look for the best line and can not look away from the ground.

feel it is a special day and I feel very comfortable going up. Of the four days we have been in the Alps today in the Finestre climb, as best I am. I climb around some friends that I have taken minutes to further rises of previous days. I am so, those rises motivate me. While others curse the lack of asphalt I, with my bottom bracket black retro jersey, I guess riding in the days of Coppi and Bartali with cross tires in the chest.

mediated part of the unpaved climb above you can see the end of the port. Quickly understand the meaning of Colle de Finestre: Port windows. A fortified tower with many windows controlled the entire rise from Susa. Your eyes will not abandon us and for the last mile.

The climb is steady and let it do. Only in some tight corners with the firm in very bad shape I think it may be a risk to set foot on the ground, but not the hardness but the loose soil and lack of traction. Whole came up more than I thought. Doubted that these brutal figures (19 km an average of 8.8%, with 8 km unpaved) if the 34x25 might be enough, but it was too well: it is what it is up the first port, and not get crushed after another rises.

At the top, beside the sign that indicates the port 2,178 meters above sea level, see the memorial that was dedicated to the broker who first moved there in the Giro 2005, Danilo Di Luca. Going walk a few meters, looking for a better view, our photographer Sergi cyclist discovers a small shrine to remember the most legendary cols of Europe. "Claudio, you have to do this, be amazed." So I have seen, I know well. In the sanctuary there profiles simulating slate stones of the Mont Ventoux, Stelvio, Gavia's .... Place at that level Finestre is exaggerated, but I love the ability of the Italians to invent myths and create illusions. Sure.

The work is called "Dust, fatigue and sweat", and thus described in a poster at the very top: "With the 19 th stage of the Giro d'Italia 88, 19 May 2005, the Colle delle Finestre has entered the history of cycling's partly thanks to the unpaved path, unique in Europe. The sculpture is dedicated to the corridor of the Abruzzi Danilo Di Luca and wants to remember the feat he accomplished by first passing the Colle delle Finestre. The work includes the whole course of the 9 ports epic cycling (Izoard, Fauna, Mortirolo, Gavia, Stelvio, Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux, Alpe d'Huez and the Galibier) and, through the use of elements of the mountain tops of stone, earth, sky and the light that is reflected in the mirrors, meant to represent the strain and fatigue cycling at altitude. "

The top of Finestre is also the starting point of the Strada dell'Asietta, a tour cyclist (mostly unpaved) of over 60 kilometers over 2,000 meters above sea that connects the valleys of Chisone and Susa, which offers a unique opportunity to discover some of the most significant pages of the history of the Western Alps from a different viewpoint. An incredible journey of historical, artistic, environmental and recreational value, clearly marked in several stages, with finish in Sestriere. For more information please visit http://www.stradadellassietta.it/ .

But not everyone appreciates Finestre like me. A colleague of the group that went to the Alps or even took the bike that day. Others would prefer not to continue when the pavement disappeared. However, for me it evokes fond memories cyclists, such as unpaved Gavia 90's. For me it is so great that even the problems of Di Luca doping blur the memory of Finestre. As I had not done if we have bad weather. The day I climbed was climatically splendid, but I confess that I had not imported upload on a rainy day. Change dust mud and the title of the article works well. It is the legend of Finestre.