The best traffic-free bike rides around Ovaro

Cyclists traversing the cycle path pass through tunnels carved into the rock, where narrow-gauge railways once ran. The track had a gauge of just 750 mm (known as scartamento ridotto). Such narrow gauge tracks are rare in Europe and were typically used on industrial routes or in very difficult, mountainous terrain where standard, wide gauge tracks would have been prohibitively expensive to build. This technical specificity is the direct cause of the tunnels' tightness.

The FVG8 (Ciclovia della Carnia) cycle path on the section leading to Ovaro is unique in that it follows the route of the former narrow-gauge railway, the Ferrovia Villa Santina–Comeglians. The railway opened in 1920 but ceased operations just 15 years later, in 1935.

The twin races of the Granfondo Carnia Classic Fuji-Zoncolan in Italy and the Mt. Fuji Hillclimb in Japan were a practical manifestation of this partnership. This enabled the creation of a unique, bicontinental destination for amateurs, where they tackled the extreme intensity and gradients of Monte Zoncolan on the one hand, and the long, endurance climb of Majestic Fuji on the other, gaining global recognition for conquering the iconic 1,200-meter vertical drop on both sides of the globe.

The main reason for the partnership is the similar elevation gain experienced by cyclists on both routes. The climb to Zoncolan from Ovaro requires approximately 1,210 meters of elevation gain. Similarly, the popular Subaru Toll Road leading to Mount Fuji requires approximately 1,250 meters of elevation gain. However, the difference in scale is important: Zoncolan is extremely concentrated (about 10 km of very challenging climbing – at one point, you're climbing a 22% gradient), while the climb to Fuji is long and gentle (about 25 km, with an average gradient of 5%). The partnership focused on the vertical gain.

The "Zoncolan Mt. Fuji" sign at the wooden starting arch in Ovaro symbolizes the international twin-mountain partnership, initiated around 2015 to promote cycling tourism in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. The Italian province of Carnia and the Japanese prefecture of Shizuoka have announced an official gemellaggio, linking the iconic Alpine mountain of Zoncolan with Japan's majestic sacred Mount Fuji.

In addition to its role as a cycling arena, Monte Zoncolan is a multi-purpose tourist destination. In winter, you can enjoy downhill runs of varying difficulty (ranging from blue to black). The Zoncolan Ski Area offers a variety of challenging trails (both fast technical sections and steep walls), making it ideal for slalom and giant slalom training. The location in Friuli-Venezia Giulia offers good snow conditions, but also a relatively quiet base – fewer tourists than in the Dolomites. Modern infrastructure (the Ravascletto–Zoncolan gondola and artificial snowmaking system) allows for regular training even in inclement weather. If you visit Ravascletto in winter, it's not unusual to see sections of the trails marked "chiuso per allenamento" (closed for training) – a sign that national teams or clubs are training there. In summer, you can enjoy a network of trails of varying difficulty—from family walks to challenging mountain treks. The areas are well-marked and have infrastructure (huts, rifuges, viewpoints).

This phrase perfectly captures the nature of the Zoncolàn climb, where steep gradients of up to 22% force riders to push themselves to their limits, often beyond their capabilities. The name emphasizes that once the climb begins, especially in a race like the Giro d'Italia, there's no respite until the very top.

The inscription on the climb to Lo Zoncolàn, "Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch'entrate," is a famous quote from Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. It means "Abandon all hope, ye who enter." This phrase appears above the gate to Hell and symbolizes hopelessness and the impossibility of return for the souls who enter. In the context of cycling, this inscription is metaphorical, referring to the extremely difficult climb to Monte Zoncolàn, one of the toughest in Europe. It sums up the grueling effort that awaits cyclists.