TOMORROW'S STAGE
Stage 13 – Palmanova - Cividale del Friuli – 170km
This is a very challenging mountain stage. The route takes in four categorised climbs in a row, with just a few stretches to let the bunch catch their breath. The first 45km run on apparently flat ground, and are followed by three typical pre-Alpine climbs, marked by narrow roadway, high gradients and endless turns, both while climbing and while descending. After a flat drag including a passage over the finish line, the route heads towards the two final climbs in Porzùs and Valle, with a very winding and undulating profile, and high uphill gradients. The road narrows at point while crossing urban areas. The route features some technical descents, especially when climbing down form Passo San Martino at km 67.
Final kms
The last 5km are deceptive: seemingly flat and yet actually running downhill all the way to Cividale del Friuli. The route features a few twists and turns over the last kilometre; the home straight (approx 400m long) is on a 7m wide asphalt road.
POINTS OF INTEREST
PALMANOVA – km 0
Founded in 1593 by decree of the Senate of the Republic of Venice, it was built as a fortress-city, with circles of defensive walls, ramparts and moats that were further expanded in later periods. The city plan has a unique structure in the shape of a nine-pointed star, which survives to the present day. Also referred to as ‘the star city’, Palmanova was declared a National Monument in 1960.
Palmanova was hometown to Professor Ardito Desio (1897- 2001), the explorer and geologist, who performed a famous exploration mission on K2 in 1954.
CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI – km 29
The route leaves the ‘star city’, heading for San Giovanni al Natisone, the town at the heart of the Italian chair-making district. As we catch sight of the gentle Collio Hills, a renowned wine-producing area, the route encounters the ancient, majestic structure of the 10-century Abbey of Rosazzo. After running past Oleis and the hamlet of Ipplis (within Premariacco), the route takes a first pass through Cividale del Friuli.
SAN PIETRO AL NATISONE (intermediate sprint) – km 42
After San Pietro al Natisone (intermediate sprint) the route crosses the famous Devil’s Bridge spanning the River Natisone. The charming and gentle hilly landscape becomes markedly mountainous in Savogna.
MONTEMAGGIORE (MATAJUR) (KOM) – km 58
In Savogna, the road starts to climb all the way up to the Montemaggiore 1st category summit on Mount Matajur, a mountain of the Julian Prealps some 1,641m high. The small church of Christ the Redeemer stands out on the summit and the astronomic observatory near the summit was inaugurated in 2013.
During WWI the Matajur was part of the last line of Italian defence protecting the Friuli plain. At the Battle of Caporetto, Lieutenant Rommel, the future Field Marshal, conquered the summit (24th October 1917); his advance was decisive for the tragic Italian retreat.
CRAI (KOM) – km 81
The woody landscape is charming and verdant, and the soil is deeply ridged – a distinctive feature of the entire area.
PONTE SAN QUIRINO (feed zone) – km 105
CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI – km 111 and FAEDIS – km 124
The Faedis area is dotted with castles, which has earned it the nickname “the land of castles”. Local produce includes the famous Refosco di Faedis wine, and strawberries.
ATTIMIS (intermediate sprint) – km 130 and CIMA PORZUS (KOM) – km 139
The place known as Malghe di Porzus is reminiscent of a tragic, controversial event that occurred in 1945 related to Italian Resistance.
VALLE (KOM) – km 156
CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI – km 170
Cividale del Friuli is the ancient Forum Iulii, founded by Julius Caesar, which gave its name to the entire region. It was the first capital of the Lombard Duchy of Friuli. Throughout the centuries, it has always been a major reference centre in the territory for history, culture and its architectural landmarks, and was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. The Celtic underground caves, the Lombard Temple – an exquisite example of early Middle Ages architecture and sculpture, the Duomo along with the Christian Museum and the National Archaeological Museum are major landmarks. Local cuisine includes the classic gubana cake, and the famous plum liquor slivovitz. Cividale was hometown to Paul the Deacon (720- 799), monk, historian, poet and scribe.