cycling Blockhaus - Lettomanoppello

part 2 The Giro race finished here in 2009 because they couldnt get the TV cameras up to the top of the climb, but you still have a decent way to go. Your first destination is the TV masts above the ski-runs. Motor vehicles are prohibited beyond this point but the concrete road is suitable for road bikes. This is probably the steepest part of the climb, but by this stage you should be in a cloud of endorphins so wont care. Youll know youve finished when the track flattens out for the last 100m and the concrete ends at a little wooden shrine. Enjoy the view! The ""Blockhaus"" that gives the climb its name is a rather uninspiring set of dry-stone foundations hidden in the scrub-pine above the shrine. Not in my opinion worth a visit unless you feel like a 20min push up a grassy slope. On the way down you may consider taking the right fork at Passo Lanciano and looping back round to Lettomanopello via Rocamontepiano and Serramonacesca. They like their long names in Abruzzo!

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Just to bring Jasons story up to date in 2009 theyve completed the roadworks and you can now cycle all the way to the top. Id agree that the climb out of Lettomanopello feels like the steepest section. Making your way through the towns turns an junctions is the least pretty part of the climb, but you soon emerge into rough pasture land with the great block of the mountain rising above you. After a few preliminary hairpins youll emerge onto the long, straight pull up to Passo Lanciano. The forest fires swept across the hillside in 2007 leaving the eerie remains of the burnt forest all around you. The Italian forestry commission are working hard to tidy things up so you may find them working on the road. This is more of a hazard descending, but their work will be well signposted. Fortunately the fires didnt reach Passo Lanciano and the climb winds up though some very pleasant beach wood until you emerge on the recently re-tarmaced alpine meadows of the Maiella ski area.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Hi there, I did this climb in August 05. I actaully rode it from Alanno Scalo where my relatives live and had to climb to get to Letto Manopello. The first part to Passo Lanciano definitely felt like a 9% to 10% climb. After that it was cruisy by comparison - more around the 7% mark. Had to walk the last 200 m or so as the road was all chopped up (some work was going on). Looking over to the left are high mountain peaks going down and joining up to form a bowl below.I couldnt help but yell out a "cooeee" (its an Australian thing to do) and heard an echo come back at me three times. Absolutely beautiful scenery which almost moved me to tears (maybe I was just thinking about how far away from home I was). If anyone heads up there, try to find my name which Id inscribed into some wet cement in one of the pine fence foundations.