732 - Cascata del Toce

REPETTI M A U R O - 23-05-2022:
Cascata del Toce is a classic for road bike and for who desire pedal in a fantastic scenery.
Site in high Piemont, this road is famous also for have been the last climb of Marco Pantani ; he tried the escape on these ramps in 2003 Giro d’Italia but Gilberto Simoni won the stage.
At the top you will find the famous waterfall , with its 143 meters drop.
From Baceno (654 mt) , road begin lightly to go up (6-8%) , then, until the tunnel , slope is around 2-5 %.
Alert = the old road for avoid the tunnel is CLOSED for landslide and danger ; locals said me will need a lot of time before re-open ;
so the only choice is the tunnel , helical for earn drop ; infact you earn 200 mt drop in its 3,08 km long with a constant slope of 7 % - road tunnel of this type are very rare, not only in Italy, but in the world (there are many bur for trains).
It is enough illuminated, large, so no danger for bikes (clearly lights - abore all the rear one - are requested !!)
Then at the exit of the tunnel you re at 1200 meters altitude.
After a part almost flat, you arrive in Ponte where begins the last hardest 4 km of the entire climb.
3 steep tunnels - 12 -14 % (all open on one side) will lead you to the top, where the hotel on the right is just before the bridge with the wonderfull waterfall (mt 1675).
Weekends I suppose will be busy with traffic ; during the week you will pedal in a paradise.
Tarmac is very good.





NOTA