Tota Day 4 – From Rovereto to Predazzo: the Trentino stage leads the peloton to Val di Fiemme

Tour of the Alps is up and open and offers a stage to be run entirely in Trentino, 152,9 Km and 3600 meters of elevation gain from Rovereto in Vallagarina to Predazzo in Val di Fiemme - the home of Marcialonga, historical Nordic Ski Marathon - in view of the final showdown in Bruneck/Brunico.

Sommo Pass, Santa Colomba Lake and Pramadiccio Pass will inflame the battle for the Green Jersey Melinda, involving many athletes: from leader Tao Geoghegan Hart to Hugh Carthy (+22”), Jack Haig (+28”), Jefferson Cepeda (+36”), Lorenzo Fortunato (+38”), Lennard Kämna (+45”) and Aleksandr Vlasov (+49”).

Stage 4 gets off to an uphill start, following the kick-off in front of MART, the famous museum of modern art in Rovereto. After the first few flat kilometers, the riders will have to tackle the long climb up to the Sommo Pass (1341 m asl). The gradients are regular, but it still is more than 15 km of climbing. And even for the rest of the stage, there will be little flatness.

After passing the ascent of the Santa Colomba Lake, the route winds its way along both sides of the Cembra Valley, switching between uphill segments and short descents. Entering Fiemme Valley, riders will face the climb to the Pramadiccio Pass, introduced by the characteristic 'Della Cascata' (Of the Waterfall) climb, the iconic and decisive ascent of the Marcialonga. The last KOM is located 15 km from the finish line, which includes a very fast downhill section towards Tesero, and a flat segment towards Predazzo, with the last kilometer slightly uphill. 

Several guests from top-level sports will show up in Predazzo to enjoy the #TotA show, including Christian Zorzi, Cross-Country Ski Olympic Champion in 2006, Giacomo Bertagnolli, 4-time Paralympic Champion in Alpine Skiing, and Tommaso Giacomel, reigning Biathlon vice-World Champion in the mixed relay.

PROVISIONS

Meeting Place: 9:00 Rovereto, MART, Corso Bettini 43
Start: 11:05, Rovereto, loc. Sant’Ilario
Finish: 15.15, Predazzo, Via Roma
Intermediate Sprints: San Cristoforo/Lago di Caldonazzo (km 45,5), Palù di Giovo (km 82,6)
KOM: Passo Sommo (km 20,8, 1^ cat.), Passo Pramadiccio (km 137,9, 2^ cat.)
Permanence: Predazzo, Stadio del Salto, loc. Stalimen 4

LA PARTENZA: ROVERETO. Known as the “Athens of Trentino,” Rovereto is home to international museums that offer year-round exhibitions of art, history, and science. A city of renowned cultural and architectural value, Rovereto’s city center reveals ancient palaces and reminders of the town's opulent years. The MART in Rovereto is one of Europe's most prestigious museums. The large square that accesses the museum features a grand glass and steel dome that’s the same size as the Pantheon in Rome at 40 meters wide by 25 meters high.

SULLA STRADA: An essential part of the Ecomuseo Argentario, Lake Santa Colomba is located in a wooded basin in the southern part of the Cembra Valley. It is of geological interest because it’s located on a fault line between a rock of volcanic origin (quartz porphyry) and a rock with a sedimentary profile (the calcareous rock of Mount Calisio). The area is popular for its green waters, which reflect the sky and the pine trees, and for the relaxing beauty of the surroundings.

LA TAPPA DEL GUSTO: Casocelli are the typical half-moon ravioli of the Val di Fiemme. They are the traditional regional holiday dish, particularly because they are time-consuming to prepare. The filling is made with potatoes, cheese (Puzzone of Moena or Nostrano of Cavalese), nutmeg, and chives.

DA NON PERDERE: A masterpiece of nature: towers, crests, pinnacles arranged like organ pipes, tall columns towered by a huge porphyry rock: these are the earth pyramids in the municipality of Segonzano. One of the most well-known and studied geological phenomena in the world, also for its imposing beauty. The site is open to visitors all the year round, and can be reached by a specially equipped, clearly marked path.

L’ARRIVO: PREDAZZO. Predazzo, called “The Geological Garden of the Alps,” lies on the magma chamber of a 238-million-year-old Triassic volcano. Predazzo isn’t only a sports destination sought out by skiers, it’s also the cradle of ski jumping. The famous ski jumps of the Dal Ben Ski Jumping Stadium have hosted three editions of the Nordic World Ski Championships and will host the Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping races of the Milano-Cortina Winter Games in 2026.

In the summer of 1970, four friends (Mario Cristofolini, Giulio Giovannini, Roberto Moggio, and Nele Zorzi) decided to organize a Nordic skiing marathon in Val di Fiemme in the wake of the legendary Vasaloppet. The Marcialonga, Italy’s most famous Nordic skiing marathon, was born in 1971 on the snow of Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa. The competition is held every year on the last Sunday in January.

DISTRIBUZIONE TELEVISIVA

Every day, two hours of live broadcast will characterize 2023 Tour of the Alps, from 13.30 to 15.30 CET, thanks to the production and international distribution by PMG Sport, together with the strategic synergy of Infront Sports&Media.

TV: Eurosport (Europe, East Asia, USA, Canada, South America, Central America, Pacific Area, Indian Subcontinent), RaiSport (Italy, San Marino, Vatican City), Equipe TV (France).

LIVE STREAMING: Raiplay, Eurosport, GCN – Global Cycling Network, Repubblica.it, Tuttobiciweb.it, Federciclismo, PMG Sport.

EVENTI COLLATERALI

ROVERETO

Bike School

• Encouraging kids towards bikes and cycling

PREDAZZO

• 11.00 AM – 06.00 PM Aperitive and Drinks with local cheese from Predazzo and Moena’s cheese factories.
•  03.00 – 06.00 PM Offering typical dessert “Fortaia”, resembling the shape of a wheel.
•  04.00 – 06.00 PM Exhibition by the “Ettore Bernardi" Orchestra from Predazzo

WEATHER FORECAST: The riders will find rain for Tour of the Alps' stage 3.  The temperature will be at 7-8 degrees in Predazzo.