A little under nine kilometres is all it takes to ride into cycling history: Croce d’Aune, above Feltre, is the climb where one of the most important objects ever invented for the bicycle was born.
Route data
- Start: Pedavena
- Finish: Croce d’Aune (1,011 m)
- Length: about 9 km
- Elevation gain: about 700 m
- Average gradient: 7.8% (almost 12% in the first km)
- Surface: asphalt, shaded by woodland
- Difficulty: moderate
From Pedavena the road climbs firmly from the very first kilometre, with peaks close to 12%, before settling into steadier gradients, always sheltered by the shade of the woods that make it pleasant even on the hottest days. As you climb, ever wider views open onto the Vette Feltrine and Monte Pavione, up to the pass at 1,011 metres, gateway to the Belluno Dolomites National Park. From Croce d’Aune you can carry on downhill towards Passo Cereda, Fiera di Primiero or the Valsugana, to extend the ride as you please.
Did you know?
It was on this very climb that Tullio Campagnolo had the idea of the quick release, back in 1927: the bitter cold had numbed his hands, making it almost impossible to loosen the wheel nuts in time during a race. Out of that difficulty came the company that would revolutionise bicycle components worldwide.