Sun, 7 July 2013
Vertical Climbed: 1,856 meters (6,090 feet)
Vertical Descended: 1,827 meters
Rating: 5
This is the classic climb in the area to the ski resort of Mottarone from Stresa. From the coast road follow road signs for Mottarone near the Borremeo Palace Hotel. The climb is some 20km over 1300 meters at 6% but this disguises some sharp changes in gradient. Climb to Vezzo (6km) then Gignese where you take a right at traffic lights onto the via Alpino (note there have been some one way changes in 2015 which may change the exact route). Above Gignese there are some ramps of more than 15% and the final part of the toll road is both on a pot holed surface and over 10%. There are cafes on the Mottarone and excellent views of the surrounding lakes.
Start: Stresa, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Damp but dry. Cool in the morning. Punctured on the way down and had trouble getting my pump to work. The toll road is a bit rough.