For the first time, the finish arrived in 1962 with Guido Carlesi who triumphed over the Frenchman Desmet. The finish was repeated the following year, 1963, where the winner was Armando Pambianco “il Gabanein”.
But it was in 2011 that one of the most memorable spectacles in the history of the Giro took place, when “the Pistolero” Alberto Contador made this climb unforgettable, snatching victory from the heavily favored Vincenzo Nibali and completing the time trial in 28’55’’, imposing himself with a remarkable 34’’ lead over the Sicilian.
A triumphant crowd celebrated the feat and ignited once again at the passage of a very young Davide Malacarne at the start of his career, a local from Belluno, the pride of a territory that welcomed the Giro back after almost 50 years of absence.
This climb, with an average gradient of 8%, is worth conquering to understand why the locals call it “The terrace over the Dolomites.”
A mention is due to the Gorizia-Nevegal stage of 1963, which brought the Giro to pass through Longarone, just 125 days before it was swept away by the sadly famous Vajont wave.
