Since I opened this thread and made several posts on CN forum I think it is fair to post them here as well.
There are many climbs like Basset, Sahun, Tenda; the climbs which many cycling fans want to see them being fetured in the race as a pass but since there are some gravel parts in the climbs they can't be used as a pass (or only used from 1-way)
But these 3 are not the only ones. For example, have you ever heard of Passo Pelliceira?
Passo Pelliceira is a climb in between Asturias and Galicia (around the border).
There are 2 sides of this climb, one from Cecos and one from Coro-Rio Baluta which share the last 2,6 km. (which is on gravel) But that is not to say Passo Pelliceira is a dead end road, since there is a road of 5,5 km from Passo Pelliceira to Cruz de Colada that is on gravel road.
Passo Pelliceira por Coro-Rio Balouta. the overall stats for this climb is 10,3 km at %8,1 with a km of not steep descent. Also there is a 3,4 km of gravel road between km 0,5 and 4,5 so it rules out this side being used as a descend unless they asphalt the gravel part. The first 4 km of this climb averages %10,3 before a mixture of climbing and descending for 2 kms. Then, the next 4 km are at %9,3 before the last 300m at %7,3 as the last 2,6 km of this side (after the Pelliceira village) are the same as the Cecos side. The maximum gradient of this side of the climb is %15,5, at the 4th km.
Passo Pelliceira por Cecos. The overall stats for this climb is 15,3 km at %7,1 but there is a descent part between km 3 and 4 (which averages %3,3) and there is a false flat descent and false flat ascent part between kms 11 and 13. The kms between 9 and 11 are also pretty easy at %3,7 so actually the stats don't tell the whole story. The first 3 km are %8,8. After the descent the next 4 kms average %12,3. The next km is at %6,9 before 2 kms at %3,7. Then, after the false flat descent-false flat ascent part of 1,7 kms we reach the village of Pelliceira and share the last 2,6 km with the Coro-Rio Balouta side which is on gravel. I don't know the gradients of the first 300 m. Then a km at %11,7, a km at %7 before the last 300m at %7,3. The maximum gradient of this side is %17.
In my earlier post I told you that there is a gravel road of 5,5 kms from Passo Pelliceira to Cruz de la Colada.
This 5,5 km of gravel road has changing gradients. first 1,7 km is a false flat descent. After we start climbing yet again. After a km of climbing at %1, there are 2 kms that average %5 with a 250m stretch at %9,6. The last 750m has both descent and climbing so it averages only %1,1.
The profile of Cruz de la Colada from Cecos-Passo Pelliceira:
From Coro-Rio Balouta-Passo Pelliceira:
Though there are also more different ways (though 2 of them become together at the village of Pelliceira) of approaching Cruz de la Colada:
The first one which is the Coro-Rio Balouta and the second one which is the Cecos side join at the village of Pelliceira but this time we will be going to Cruz de Colada from a different road which is gravel as well. After 300-400m of climbing (don't know the gradient though) there is a descent of 1600-1700 meters at around %4 or so. After the descent we start climbing the last 4,3 km to Cruz de Colada. The first km is %8,2 but with a stretch of 600m at %12,5. The second km is %8 with a stretch of 650 m at %12,3. The 3rd km has a little flat and descent part, then the road has a pitch of %18,6! And the last 400m of this km is %12. The next km is at %13 with 400m at %15! The last 300m are %9,3.
Cruz de la Colada from Coro-Rio Balouta:
Cruz de la Colada from Cecos:
Here is the other side of Cruz de la Colada. It shares the first 13,5 km or so with the Balouta side of Ancares till Balouta and then the last 4,66 km to Cruz de la Colada from Balouta.
The first part of the climb (till Balouta) :
And the second part of the climb:
Since the Balouta side of Ancares is knwon (and even used in a cycling race, let me describe the last 4,66 km which averages %7,83.(the 2nd part)
The first km is at %11,3 with 200m at %20! The 2nd km is at %10,4 with pitches of %18 and 20. The 3rd km is a bit easier at %9. Then the first 500m of the next 1km is at %8-9 or so with pitches of %11,5. Then the next 400-500m have a mixture of flat, descending and climbing. The last 660m have a mixture of flat, descending and climbing with pitches of %14. The last 4,66 km to Cruz de la Colada from this side may or may not be in the gravel. I couldn't find anything about it. The complete stats of Cruz de la Colada from this side is 17,5 km at %5,3
But there are still a few more sides of Cruz de la Colada.
This starts from Luina (I think) and the overall stats of this part is 6,8 km at %10,8! The first km is %10, the second one %11 and the 3rd km is %13 with pitches of %22! The 4th km is %7,5 but there are pitches of %20,4! And the asphalt ends and gravel road starts in the final part of the 4th km. Then there are 3 kms of %11,1 with pitches of %115,4 and %18,4!
There is still one more side though.
It starts between Torga and Villares de Abajo. The first 3 kms to Villares de Abajo are pretty easy at %6,67. It gets harder in the next 2 kms to Villares de Arriba which avregae %8,75. At the end of Villares de Arriba the asphalt finishes and the gravel road starts. The next 3 km are at %7,33. The next 2 km after the intersection of Pelliceira are %11,75. The last 380-400 meters are at %10. The overall stats of the climb from this side is 10,4 km at %8,36
Yes Pelliceira and Cruz de la Colada are over. Though there may be a post (or not) about potential stages.
The user formerly known as 'The Schleck Fan' Gracias Alberto.
Once again, these were what I posted in CN Forum.
Passo della Croce Arcana is another one. It is a climb on border of Toscana-Emilia Romagna. From the Fanano side the overall stats for this climb is 15,8 km at %7,3. The first 2 km averages %5,2 albeit with a false flat descent part. The next 4 kms are %7,6. Then after a very short descent the road is climbing back to around %7 for around a km. Then there are 4 kms at %7,7. The last 4,6 kms of the climb are at %7,9. And some of the last 4,8 km of the climb is not asphalted. (Not all of them because there is an asphalt part even on the last 4,8 km) https://www.google.com/maps/@44.15189...312!8i6656
From the Cutigliano side the overall stats of this climb is 16 km at %6,4. The first 2 km are %7,5. The 3rd km is flattish at %1.The next 3 kms average %7,66 with one of them being at %10. The next 2 kms are a bit easier at %6 before it gets harder again with 3 kms at %8. The next km is %6 before a km that is flat. After the flat km, it starts climbing again with a km at %5. And the last 2 kms of the climb are %8,5. And the last 1,7 km of the climb is on gravel road. https://www.google.com/maps/@44.12565...312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@44.12837...312!8i6656
There is also the Vizzaveta side that I used in my Giro but there is not a profile for it. It shares the last 3,65 km with the Cutigliano side (so it still has 1,7 km of gravel on the end) and the road before is perfectly fine on asphalt. The stats for that side is 17,1 km at %6,86.
The user formerly known as 'The Schleck Fan' Gracias Alberto.
