1 of 5 routes up the southern face of Monte Grappa - very steep start!

Cycling Monte Grappa - Cavaso del Tomba

Ride 21.6 km gaining 1541m at 6.4%.

Visit our Monte Grappa Home Page.

All 5 climbs up the southern face of Monte Grappa (Semonzo, Crespano, Fietta, Possagno and Cavaso del Tomba) have extreme initial grades.   From mile/km .2/.3 to mile/km 2.7/4.3 the grade averages 12.5% and we encounter a couple of 20%+ brief segments during this stretch.

First and toughest segment of Cavaso del Tomba ascent   

Shut up legs!!

 All Monte Grappa southern face ascents include switchbacks (even for military purposes, there is just no engineering a straight road up this monster!)  

All 11 routes up Monte Grappa ultimately connect.  At mile/km 3 / 4.8 Cavaso merges with the Pedrobba from the east (to our right), enter Alano again from our right at mile/km 3.6/5.8. Next, the climbs to our west begin to enter from our left as we travel easterly - Possagno at 4.8/7.7, Fietta at 7/11.2, the dirt and gravel Crespano route crosses our path at Refugio Ardosetta (11m/17.7km; later joining from the right at mile/km 12.5/20), and finally Semonzo  at 11.8/19 and our final merge is .4 miles/.6 km from the top as we merge with the northern 3 climbs (Cismon, Caupo and Seren) and Romano d’Ezzelino.

After climbing a couple extended steep sections (a) 12.5% for 2.5 miles/4 km beginning at near the start of the climbs and   (b)  11.3% for a 2.7 mile/4.3km stretch beginning at mile/km 3.8/6., we enter ranch and open meadow area at mile 6.5/km 10.5 where we encounter a 2-part descent totaling -500’ over a 1.6 mile/2.6 km stretch.

Sheep and cattle along this agricultural segment  

SP 19 (Strada Provinciale)

As with all routes up Monte Grappa, there are monuments and/or remnants of WW I along this route:

WW I tunnel

Memorial at  mile 9.7 and Pian Dela Bala trail

 Around mile 10/km 16 we encounter 4 short and old (WWI vintage) tunnels (Google Street View) which often have a group of mules in or near them.  The road is very narrow and with a sheer drop off to the left as we ride for a mile/1.6 km along this segment - there are exceptional views along this stretch back to the Pian Dela Bala (a gnarly narrow military inspired walking trail along a sheer cliff).

Unique stretch of road on the routes from Fietta, Posagno, Cavaso del Tomba and Pederobba.

Military Road along sheer cliff to the left and through 3 short but cool tunnels.

One of the 4 tunnels around mile 10/km 16

3 tunnels on the way to the top  

The tunnel section is bordered by cliffs

All 11 Monte Grappa routes end at the Rifugio Bassano a Cima Grappa which is a cafe with many outside chairs and tables and is frequented by many cyclists each day - this is a very popular Italian cycling destination.  The Rifugio is just below the Sacrario del Monte Grappa which is a monumental burial site for approximately 20,000 of the Italian and Austrian soldiers who died in battle on the hillsides of Monte Grappa during World War I.  

WW I Memorial - Rifugio in background

History museum at the top

Sacrario del Monte Grappa

The Sacrario del Monte Grappa and la Madonna del Grappa (chapel on top of the Sacrario).

On our 8 trips up Monte Grappa, there were often as not more cyclists than motorists at the top.    

                                    PJAMM 6 DAY 11 CLIMB MONTE GRAPPA CHALLENGE

Photos clockwise from top right:  8-27-16 Romano d’Ezzelino + Caupo;

8-28-16 Seren + Cismon; 8-29-16 Semonzo + Possagno

Photos clockwise from top right:  8-30-16 Alano + Fieta;

8-31-16 Pederobba + Cavaso del Tomba; 9-1-16 Crespano

We LOVE Monte Grappa!

Giro History