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Dramatic mountain peaks
06
STAGE 06 / AUSTRIA → ITALY / HARDEST STAGE

LIENZ
— PAULARO

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026
145 KILOMETERS
4,600 METERS CLIMBING
5 MAJOR CLIMBS
23.3% MAX GRADIENT
SHORT: 120km / 3,400m climbing EXPRESS: 75km / 1,600m climbing
IL KAISER DELLE SALITE
ROUTE_OVERVIEW

WHERE SPIRITS
ARE BROKEN.

The hardest day. 4,600m of climbing including Monte Zoncolan — the most feared climb in professional cycling. 9.8km averaging 12.3% with ramps hitting 23%. Before that, Monte Crostis via the Strada delle Vette — a forgotten WWI military road along the Carnic ridge at 10% average. This is where legends are made and spirits are broken.

Rugged mountain road
CLIMB_DATA

THE
CLIMBS.

Gailbergpass
981m
6.7km Distance
5.4% Avg Gradient
Plockenpass / Passo Monte Croce
1,357m
11.4km Distance
6.1% Avg Gradient
16.3% MAX Max Gradient
Monte Crostis
1,987m
STRADA DELLE VETTE
14.1km Distance
10.1% Avg Gradient
19.1% MAX Max Gradient
Monte Zoncolan
1,730m
IL KAISER DELLE SALITE — 6x GIRO D'ITALIA
9.8km Distance
12.3% Avg Gradient
23.3% MAX! Max Gradient
Passo Forcella di Lùs
1,050m
7.1km Distance
5.9% Avg Gradient
HIGHLIGHTS

CARNIC
ALPS.

LEGENDARY CLIMB

Monte Zoncolan

"Il Kaiser delle Salite" — the Emperor of Climbs. Gradients up to 23% make this the most feared ascent in professional cycling. Six Giro d'Italia appearances have cemented its status as a monument of suffering.

6x GIRO D'ITALIA / 12.3% AVG
MILITARY ROAD

Strada delle Vette

The "Road of the Peaks" — a forgotten WWI military road running along the Carnic ridge to Monte Crostis. Narrow, exposed, and averaging 10%. A relic of alpine warfare turned into the ultimate cycling challenge.

CARNIC RIDGE / WWI HERITAGE
Alpine ridge road
DESTINATION

PAULARO
CARNIC ALPS.

650m Elevation
2,300 Population
CARNIC Region
ITALY Country
Paularo sits deep in the valley of Torrente Chiarsò in the Carnic Alps. A tiny mountain settlement of 2,300 people surrounded by some of the most brutal climbs in cycling. After 4,600 meters of climbing, this remote village offers the quiet refuge that only the mountains can provide.