Cycling along legendary routes is not an opportunity you get every day. But at the Giro-E Enel, it happens frequently. Today it was the mythical, formidable Blockhaus ascent. It was here, in 1967, that Eddy Merckx claimed his first Grand Tour stage victory. Many more pages of cycling history have been written here since. On a day of inclement weather – and a lot of wind – the Giro-E participants had every right to feel like true cyclists as they crossed the finish line.
After the smooth ride offered by yesterday’s Pompei-Napoli stage, the Giro-E Enel 2026 suddenly began to climb – steeply – today. Stage 4 began in Roccaraso in l’Aquila and finished on the Blockhaus: almost 80 kilometres of uphill pedalling with a total elevation gain of 1,750 metres, undoubtedly one of the Giro-E’s toughest. It is no pushover for the pros either: this was the longest stage at this year’s Giro. Thankfully the Giro-E offers motor assistance, turning the climb to the top of the Blockhaus – just under 14 kilometres with an 8.4% average gradient and sections as steep as 15% – a memorable experience and not merely one of agony.
Located in the heart of the Maiella massif in Abruzzo, the Blockhaus represents pain, suffering, cycling lore. However, with electric assistance, some of the Giro-E participants might just have been able to enjoy the views. The e-cyclists certainly won’t have been unmoved by the beauty of Roccaraso. The town is famous for its ski resorts – the Alto Sangro ski area being one of the largest in Italy, with modern facilities and links to nearby villages such as Rivisondoli and Pescocostanzo – but is equally appealing in summer, with innumerable hiking and cycling routes showcasing Abruzzo in all its beauty.
Certamente i ciclisti elettrici non saranno stati insensibili alla bellezza di Roccaraso, località famosa per gli impianti sciistici d’inverno (il comprensorio sciistico dell’Alto Sangro è uno dei più grandi d’Italia, con impianti moderni e collegamenti con località vicine come Rivisondoli e Pescocostanzo), ma altrettanto interessante anche senza la neve e d’estate, per le passeggiate e le pedalate che offre, alla scoperta di un Abruzzo autentico.
Today’s personality of the day is a no-brainer: Marco Marsilio, President of the Abruzzo Region. A president happy to slip on his cycling gear when the Giro passes through his territory and tackle one of the most challenging stages is indeed a fine advocate for the cause. “I was offered a pedal-assisted bike with a decent power output and that enticed me to take up the challenge,” Marsilio explains. “I didn’t want to miss out. This stage is a stunning advertisement for Abruzzo, a very cycling-friendly region. That is precisely the goal of our partnership with the Giro d’Italia: to show that our region is perfectly suited not just to sport but also to cycling as a means of transport and for tourism; that Abruzzo is the perfect place to cycle and fall in love with cycling. Days like today, spent in the saddle on the roads of the Giro, are truly unforgettable.”
President Marsilio rode with Team Abruzzo, who made their Giro-E debut on home territory today and will take part in every stage between now and the finish in Rome. Like in previous years, the captain, team manager and organiser of Team Abruzzo is Maurizio Formichetti.
