When you say "not even a meter of flat road", you get the exact picture of stage number 19 of the 109th Giro d'Italia, the Feltre - Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè): 151 kilometers, 5,000 meters of elevation gain, six categorized climbs, five descents for a menu that makes it the authentic mountain stage of this edition.

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It is the classic Dolomitic mountain stage made up of climbs and descents only. After a brief approach, the last 100 km contain the entire elevation gain of approximately 5,000 m. They are climbed in sequence, without any rest section: Passo Duran (maximum gradient 14%), Coi (max 19%), Forcella Staulanza (max 10%), Passo Giau (Cima Coppi at 2,236 meters, max 14%), Passo Falzarego (max 10%) and finally the 5 km that lead to the finish at Piani di Pezzè.

The final climb is constantly around 10% with the central section reaching maximum gradients of 15%: narrow, winding road characterized by 8 hairpin turns and numerous connecting curves. A road that leads towards glory...

THE ROADS OF THE GIRO. The eagerly awaited Dolomitic mountain stage starts from Feltre, enclosed by a mighty defensive wall that seems to want to protect its treasures. Just as it did once upon a time. The heart of the city is Piazza Maggiore, an elegant Renaissance square around which historic buildings such as the Palazzo della Ragione, home to the Teatro de la Sena, and the Castello di Alboino, symbol of civic power since the XII century, overlook. To reach it, you walk along Via Mezzaterra, which fascinates with the succession of noble palaces and perspective games of great charm. From the times of earthly power we move to the Cathedral of San Pietro. Among the treasures it houses, the pink marble cathedra of the XIII century placed in the apse and the Byzantine cross of 542 in boxwood with 52 scenes of the New Testament carved on it stand out. Beneath the church floor extends an important archaeological area that testifies to Roman Feltria, with remains of buildings, roads and structures that tell the story of the city's urban evolution up to the Middle Ages.

Shortly after the start, we stop at Cesiomaggiore, home to the Toni Bevilacqua Historical Bicycle Museum, inside which you can admire dozens of historic bikes and memorabilia belonging to great cycling champions. After passing the Certosa di Vedana, a grandiose XV century monastic complex, we arrive at Agordo.

The town situated on the banks of the Cordevole river offers first and foremost a beautiful view of the Belluno Dolomites, in particular of Monte Agner, the Pale di San Lucano and the Moiazza, which is the southern extension of Civetta. The sixteenth-century Villa Crotta - De' Manzoni, originally the residence of the owners of the Imperina Valley mining center, itself visitable a short distance from the town, is the most sumptuous monument in Agordo. You immerse yourself in the quieter Dolomites by climbing the road of Passo Duran, which connects the Agordino area with the Val di Zoldo. At Forno di Zoldo, the Museum of Iron and Nails celebrates with simplicity the era (from the XVI to the XIX century) when iron working and nail production were one of the main sources of livelihood for the people of Zoldo. Who later became famous by opening artisanal ice cream shops all over the world.

At Selva di Cadore, we visit the Man of Mondeval, a Mesolithic hunter whose remains were found in 1987 a short distance from the town. He is the guest of honor at the Vittorino Zacchetta Museum, which also features sections dedicated to archaeology and the history of the valley.

Just a few more kilometers and we arrive on the shores of Lake Alleghe. The body of water, today peacefully set among forests and the slopes of Civetta, was created by a landslide that in 1771 blocked the course of the Cordevole river, thus determining the formation of the lake. Today Alleghe is a well-equipped tourist resort, appreciated in all seasons of the year also for its exquisite hospitality. From here begins the climb towards the day's finish line located at Piani di Pezzè, frequented by hikers, climbers and by every lover of beauty. Because here in Civetta you admire it in all its magnificence. And you can almost touch it with your hand.