The climb up to Piancavallo 1,270 m/4,160 feet above sea level

The climb

The place to start is Sacile which is on the Venezia-Vienna train line. It is easy therefore to come by train, to the station at Sacile, using the Treno+Bici [train and bike] service found on most of the regional and interregional trains.

From Sacile take the road towards Vigonovo, which has little traffic and is relatively peaceful, continue in the direction of Castello di Aviano, then take a small road to the left towards Pedemonte di Aviano (160 m/525 feet above sea level). This is where the climb begins.

At first the road is wide and the grade is moderate (6 -7%); then upon reaching 284 m/932 feet asl the road turns to the left and narrows down and the grade becomes more severe (around 10%). There are no impossible grades, but the climb doesn’t allow for a breather for several km until you reach, at 1,031 m/3,383 feet, a broad turn from where you have an expansive view over Aviano and the Friuli plain; and to really enjoy the view it is better to get off one’s bike and take the opportunity to catch one’s breath…

After the bend the climb becomes more gentle and there is even a flat section before a tunnel. Just past the tunnel the climb returns to make itself felt or perhaps it is rather the fatigue that makes this last section seem so strenuous. After two final switchbacks you arrive at a large rotary flanked by buildings of strange triangular architecture. We have arrived at Piancavallo, 1,270 m/4,160 feet above sea level.

Return

From Piancavallo there are two alternatives to return to the valley:

• Follow the descent, on pavement that is rather rough, that takes you to Lago di Barcis, and then the road to Val Cellina as far as Montereale; from here continue to Pordenone along a wide road, with little traffic and entirely in a gentle descent. • Turn back on the route you came as far as Aviano and from here take the road to Pordenone.

At Pordenone the FS train station, again on the Venezia-Vienna line, provides good availability of trains with Treno+Bici [train and bike] service.

Photos

Panoramic breather Piancavallo

Captions

Arriving at more than a 1,000 meters/3,300 feet altitude you can stop and catch your breath and admire the view; in the distance you can even see the American air base at Aviano. Arrival at Piancavallo.