18 BORGO VALSUGANA > TREVISO Gi 26/05/22

BORGO VALSUGANA - TREVISO

The last bunch sprint of the Giro. The first half of the course is slightly undulating, with the iconic Scale di Primolano to access the valley of the Piave river and winds through the area of the Prosecco between Valdobbiadene and Refrontolo. The final climb is the short steep Muro di Ca’ del Poggio that enables the peloton to reach Treviso plain and to enter the final circuit that leads to the sprint.

START

BORGO VALSUGANA>TRENTO >TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE

The eighteenth stage sets off in Borgo Valsugana, at the centre of the valley of the same name. It is crossed by the River Brenta and the beautiful 80-kilometre cycle path that links Lake Caldonazzo to Bassano del Grappa. The mediaeval character of Borgo has remained almost intact: narrow streets, hallways and small courtyards characterise it together with Renaissance and Baroque palaces. The houses are perched on the slopes of Mount Ciolino, where Telvana Castle stands with its towers and, further down, the Poor Clare convent. The settlement stretches along the sides of the old imperial road, while new buildings expand towards the hamlet of Olle. Both Borgo and Valsugana offer many opportunities to bikers. From the great Trentino climbs, including those chosen for the Giro, to the 300 kilometres of MTB routes of varying difficulty along the Lagorai mountain range. But summer in Valsugana is also beach time on the lakes of Levico and Caldonazzo or thermal wellness at the thermal baths of Levico and Vetriolo. From the encounter between uncontaminated nature and the culture of healthy eating, the best mountain flavours are brought to the table. Polenta made with the famous Valsugana flour, the genuineness of the Sant’Orsola berries, the excellent sausages, the local dairy products, such as the typical Vezzena and Lagorai malga cheeses, just to name a few delicatessens. But also honey, La Trentina apples, Bieno radicchio, Valsugana medici-

River landscape crossed by the Brenta.

nal herbs and Roncegno chestnuts are transformed into special dishes. Acqua Levico springs from a centuries-old source in Alta Valsugana, at an altitude of over 1600 metres. Thanks to its organoleptic properties, it is one of the lightest drinking waters in Europe. The high quality of the grapes and the complex and delicate method of re-fermentation in the bottle make Trentodoc a jewel in the crown of Trentino wine production. Borgo Valsugana is also home to the Trentino craft beer of Birrificio degli Arimanni. Now famous for its original taste, Parampampoli is a drink that warms up cold winter evenings; the secret blend, invented by the host of Rifugio Crucolo, has a strong flavour of coffee, grappa, wine, and caramelised sugar. A drink of ancient tradition from the distillation of marc, grappa is never missing to top up a meal in Valsugana.

Treviso is a stage finish for the 13th time in history. The last finish here dates to 2013 when Mark Cavendish outsprinted Nacer Bouhanni and Luka Mezgec.

KM 24

LE SCALE DI PRIMOLANO > VICENZA > VENETO

Past Borgo Valsugana, the course heads toward Veneto. The first municipality upon entering the province of Vicenza is Primolano, at the bottom of the so-called “Scale di Primolano” climb that lead to the first KOM summit, at 350 metres above sea level with an elevation gain of around 130 metres. At the bottom of the climb there is a complex of fortifications built at the end of the 19th century to control the Scale di Primolano. The Tagliata della Scala was a masonry barrier flanked by an artillery platform at about halfway up the slope, while the Tagliata delle Fontanelle, near Cima Scala, was

Forte Tagliata Scala and Fontanelle.

a compact battery sunk in topsoil. The two structures were connected by a covered walkway. The fortifications were never actually used, not even during the Great War.

KM 73

VALDOBBIADENE > TREVISO > VENETO

Past the summit, the route enters the province of Belluno. Arsiè lies in a plain surrounded by mountains north of Lake Corlo, an artificial lake built to produce electric power from the Cismon stream. Then, the course runs through Fonzaso, located in an area historically at the centre of communication routes; the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary dates to the 17th century. Seren del Grappa was the scene of fierce fighting between the Italian and Austrian armies during the First World War. The front was on Mount Grappa, the last bastion in defense of the Veneto plain. From there the peloton reaches Feltre, the most important town in this area of the Belluno region, with around 20,000 inhabitants. According to the Latin author Pliny the Elder, Feltre was founded by the Reti people together with Trento and Verona. In the Roman imperial age, it experienced a remarkable economic and urban development. Subordinated to the Republic of Venice for centuries, it still preserves splendid palaces and villas and, among the religious buildings, the Co-cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle (16th century). The route continues through Quero Vas and then crosses the Piave River (the fifth longest

The Prosecco Hills.

river in Italy, inextricably linked to the memory of the First World War) at Ponte di Fener, in the territory of Alano di Piave. The course then enters the province of Treviso and takes in the first intermediate sprint, in Valdobbiadene, a municipality of about 10,000 inhabitants with numerous interesting religious and civic buildings. Within the municipal boundaries there are now no less than 6 “monumental trees” (the term indicates a plant subject of landscape, naturalistic, monumental, historical and cultural value) of the 16 located in the province of Treviso. Valdobbiadene, nearby Conegliano and their hills are considered the cities of Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene wine and, in particular, of the Superiore di Cartizze type. Light and delicate, Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG is an easy-to-drink wine, characterised by a straw-yellow colour and a fine but persistent perlage. The bouquet has a distinct floral aroma of wisteria, acacia and rose, together with notes of whitefleshed fruits such as apple, pear and peach. Prosecco is the “king” of the aperitif, but in its various types, depending on the residual sugar, from the drier “Brut” to the delicately sweet “Dry”, it can become a bubble of great versatility.

KM 103

MURO DI CA’ DEL POGGIO > TREVISO > VENETO

The itinerary on the road of Prosecco continues through Guia (a hamlet of Valdobbiadene), Col San Martino and Soligo (hamlets of Farra di Soligo), Pieve di Soligo. The latter is a populous town of about 12,000 inhabitants, with a modern Duomo dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. Another town with a great wine tradition is Refrontolo, known for the production of Marzemino wine, here called Refrontolo Passito DOCG. A little further east, in the municipality of San Pietro di Feletto, the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio, the second categorised climb, is the iconic climb of the Prosecco Hills, which in 2019 have been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The climb, entirely asphalted, winds through the vine-lined Prosecco hills for 1150 metres, with an average gradient of 12.7% and 140 metres of elevation gain.

KM 117

SUSEGANA > TREVISO > VENETO

Past the summit the course runs down to the plain, through Santa Maria di Feletto and Parè. The second intermediate sprint is set in Susegana, a municipality of around 12,000 inhabitants with a partly hilly and partly flat territory, bordered to the west by the Piave River. In the hamlet of Collalto stand the ancient tower and part of the walls of the castle of the same name.

Hills of Susegana.

FINISH

TREVISO>TREVISO>VENETO

The riders cross the Piave again at Ponte della Priula, a hamlet of Susegana, an ancient place of transit, which houses the Votive Temple to European Fraternity dedicated to the fallen of all wars. The course then reaches Spresiano, at the centre of the Treviso plain, now at the northern gates of the provincial capital city, which the riders enter through Viale della Repubblica and race the two laps of the final circuit. Treviso is the historical capital of the Marca Trevigiana. Named “city of waters” because of the confluence of the Sile and the Botteniga, it is home to a dense network of streams and canals that penetrate and surround the city, drawing its topography. The ancient centre, of Roman origin, is located on the left bank of the Sile and finds its beating heart in Piazza dei Signori, the meeting place for all Trevisans: a real ‘lounge’ surrounded by the historic institutional seats, including Palazzo del Podestà with the Torre Civica and Palazzo dei Trecento. Not far away is the Loggia dei Cavalieri, a covered and frescoed square. Treviso is rectangular in shape, with narrow, winding streets lined with houses with frescoed façades, porticoes and barbicans. One of the best-loved and most characteristic places, a perfect location for the photos of thousands of visitors, is the Canale dei Buranelli, named after a palace that belonged to a family of merchants from the Venetian island of Burano. Spared by the Huns, Treviso became an important trading centre in Roman times, before being devastated by the Hungarians. It then became a sought-after and flourishing centre. It underwent various dominations before returning under the rule of the Serenissima. The link with Venice is evidenced by the city walls and gates. Treviso suffered bombings in both World War I and II. In particular, 7 April 1944, the day on

University Bridge.

which Allied bombers razed 80% of the buildings to the ground, causing at least 1600 civilian casualties, is remembered every year with a public ceremony. Treviso therefore combines history and elegance, tradition and passion. A city to visit for its frescoed palaces and the artistic wonders housed in the Civic Museums, but also to experience for its taverns and places where Prosecco, cicchetti and traditional dishes reign supreme. Treviso is home to one of the most beautiful theatres in northern Italy: on the stage of the ‘Mario Del Monaco’ – named after one of Italy’s most famous tenors – some of the world’s greatest opera singers have performed. Even today, it is still a venue for festivals and concert seasons of international standing. Treviso is also a city of bicycles: from Restera, a cycle-pedestrian path runs along the River Sile and allows you to immerse yourself in nature along the Greenway that reaches the sea. Treviso cuisine follows the tradition of excellence from the Veneto. “Sopa coada” is a pie made of bread, broth and pigeon meat. “Pasta e fasioi” (pasta and beans) is served as a thick soup of borlotti or Lamon beans

Treviso, city of canals.

pureed in a creamy base and mixed with ditalini pasta. One of the most typical dishes is also risotto with rosoline, which are the leaves of the poppy harvested in spring before the plants bloom. Among the vegetables of Treviso are radicchio and asparagus; among the cheeses, Casatella Trevigiana DOP, with its soft, creamy texture and sweet flavour. Among the desserts, the tiramisù stands out. Its original recipe (coffee, ladyfingers, sugar, mascarpone cheese and eggs) dates to 1962. The custodian of this famous preparation is the restaurant Le Beccherie. The name derives from the Venetian dialect expression “tirame su” (“lift me up”), referring to the high calorie content of its ingredients.