Our Queenstage would not be this one without Angelo Zomegan. The former boss of the Giro d'Italia was brave enough to put some crazy hills in the Giro like the Finestre and the Monte Crostis, and he brought us also legendary stages over strada bianche. We are sad to hear that Angelo had to resign because of the riders protest against these crazy (unpaved) hills. Perhaps it is not so save for a race like the Giro but Zomegan Giro's really inspired us to put these climbs in our program. Next year Monte Crostis :) ? 

We expect no riders-protest today. The the Finestre is a unique climb. It is not the longest stage nor the one with the most elevation meters, but to climb but to do 18 kilometers will with all of these 8/10% elevation on a partly unpaved Finestre makes it the true Queenstage of our tour. Only the westside of the Zoncolan is considered as a heavier climb in italy! 

Our Queenstage starts in de Vallée de la Clarée with a short climb of 300 vertical meters on the col de l'Echelle (1766).  We decent to Bardonècchia and leave the 3000 meter high unpaved Col du Sommeiller untouched (that one seems impossible with carbon bikes).

 A long gentle decent brings us to the foot of the north side of the Colle della Finestre. Because of the Giro passage last year i expect this climb to be better accessible. Unfortunately we have a bit a boring return on the south side. Ski-village Sestrière is a kind of place we prefer to avoid if possible but the Finestre makes it all worthwhile.