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Secure the required competitive medical certificate early, use conservative gearing, and pace the first two major cols so you still have legs for Fauniera and Madonna del Colletto.
Best for
Watch out for
D-Score™
D4
Epic
Entry
First-come, first-served online via ENDU
or Charity places
Route
172 km
4,330 m climbing
Terrain
Mountain
Smooth mountain tarmac
Month
Late June
Annual event; next stated edition 27 June 2027
Temperature
Single digits to high 20s °C
Valley to summit
Roads / Format
Fully closed mountain roads under official traffic decree
Mass start from Cuneo, Piazza Galimberti
Participants
2,800 field cap
Per edition
GPX
Direct GPX download not found
Route files
A demanding but relatively accessible-entry alternative to better-known Italian alpine events. The paperwork is the main entry barrier; the route itself is a genuine D4 mountain test.
Register early for the lowest price, but focus first on obtaining the correct medical certificate and licence documentation.
No Granfondo La Fausto Coppi-specific tours listed yet
Explore Piemonte / Valle d'Aosta / Liguria cycling tours and providers, or get notified when race packages are added.
| Route | Distance | Climbing | D-Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fauniera Classic | 101 km | 2,100 m | D3 |
| Mediofondo | 111 km | 2,550 m | D3 |
| Granfondo | 172 km | 4,330 m | D4 |
A sustained alpine day with the hardest and most exposed climbing beginning early, followed by Colle Fauniera and Madonna del Colletto on tired legs. Expect long climbs and long technical descents rather than rolling terrain.
Several climbs on this route appear in Giro d'Italia history. The full route includes seven major passes.
| Climb | Length | Avg gradient | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colle di Sampeyre | 16 km | 8 % | Summit at 2,284 m; pitches to 13.2%. Granfondo route only. |
| Colle d'Esischie | 21.4 km | 7.2 % | Summit at 2,370 m; pitches to 13%. Granfondo route only. |
| Colle Fauniera (Colle dei Morti) | 22.3 km | 8 % | Signature climb; summit at 2,481 m and pitches to 14%. Included on Mediofondo and Granfondo. |
| Madonna del Colletto | 7.3 km | 8 % | Late climb with a 1,304 m summit and pitches to 13%. |
Every rider has unique gearing and nutrition needs. Below are tools we find useful for working these out before race day.
Gearing
Bike Speed & Gear Calculator
bikespeedgear.com
Estimates your climbing speed from power, weight and gradient, then helps you pick gearing that keeps cadence in a comfortable range.
Gear Calculator
gear-calculator.com
Compares chainring and cassette combinations to show resulting gear ratios and speed at a given cadence, for fine-tuning your drivetrain.
Fuelling
DIN Calculator
dincalculator.com
Upload your GPX route (or use quick mode) for an hour-by-hour carb, fluid and sodium plan based on the ride's actual climbs and descents.
Precision Hydration Planner
precisionhydration.com
Questionnaire-based tool that builds a personalised fuel and hydration strategy, including electrolyte needs, based on your sweat profile and event details.
Best base
CuneoNearest airports
Torino Caselle · Cuneo-Levaldigi · Nice is a possible but unconfirmed alternative
Car hire
Useful for airport transfers and exploring the region; not required on event day
Book ahead
Book early because Cuneo accommodation is limited during race week
Base in Cuneo for the start and finish. Verify regional airport schedules and any alternative accommodation towns before booking.
Warm valley conditions can change to cold, wind and storms above 2,000 m.
Event size
Mid-sized, capped at 2,800 riders
Field level
Fit competitive-licence field
Atmosphere
Serious mountain event with Fausto Coppi and Giro d'Italia heritage
International mix
Tour operators serve multiple international markets; exact nationality split needs verification
Bunch intensity
High initially, then small groups on climbs
First-timer
Start with the Fauniera Classic or Mediofondo before attempting the full Granfondo
Long climbing endurance
Prepare for Fauniera, Sampeyre and Esischie with repeated sustained climbs.
Descending confidence
Practise long, fast and technical descents from high-altitude summits.
Endurance base
Build toward six to seven hours in the saddle for the full Granfondo.
Gearing choices
Train with gearing suitable for sustained 8% climbs and pitches up to 14%.
Nutrition and pacing
Fuel consistently and pace evenly across four major climbs.