- That is Mount Etna and somewhere up there
is the finish of stage six of the 2018 Giro d'Italia.
I thought that was a pretty good excuse
to go and ride up an active volcano,
which I've never done before.
Unfortunately you can't even see the top at the moment.
it's 3,329 meters, up there somewhere, shrouded in cloud,
or at least I hope it's cloud, I mean, it could be smoke.
Anyway, let's go.
(upbeat rock music)
Riding through fields of what looks like rubble,
but it's not rubble, it's actually solidified lava,
which is quite incredible to me.
I mean, Mount Etna, is one of the worlds
most active volcanoes, with the first recorded eruption,
recorded that is being in 425 BC.
That's a long time to have recorded eruptions for.
It's actually still warm.
(invigorating music)
Oh, it feels like I've been riding for ages,
and I've actually only just gotten
to about 1,000 meters above sea level.
It turns out the Etna, which looked like it was so close,
is actually just absolutely enormous.
For the pros riding stage six of the 2018 Giro d' Italia,
it's gonna be the ride in that makes the difference.
It's 130 kilometers, twisty, narrow roads, rolling, potholes
so for the climbers it's gonna be all about
surviving that first 130K before
they even get to the foot of the climb.
(blissful music)
With five and a half kilometers to go,
the race street takes a sharp right,
and up this pitch towards Casa Mia.
And this is where the going really starts to get tough,
although it probably has been quite tough already
if you're racing it because in Casa Mia there's
a 12% section which is probably a fantastic place
for the climbers to attack.
Now I've gotta get going again, this bloody steep hill.
(grunts)
cruising up Nardoo,
it really doesn't feel like we're on the side of a volcano,
and in fact, apparently, the volcanic ash is very fertile,
so there are loads of farms and vineyards
on the foothills of Etna.
Up here that's given way to pine trees and chestnut trees,
it's also, have to say, getting a bit steep.
This is gonna see some fantastic action
in the race, I'm pretty sure.
So beautiful.
(blissful music)
Little shrine there.
(blissful music)
This is just absolutely amazing.
Come out of the forest and into this wasteland of rubble.
The whole of Sicily spread out below me, I can't believe it.
Also, getting a bit out of breath.
Which actually isn't that surprising given that
we're about 16 hundred meters of altitude.
I might have to slow down. (heavy breathing)
(upbeat music)
Oh, this is a super smooth, love it.
New tarmac, oh it's gorgeous.
This is gonna be super fast in the Giro stage,
especially if you got a tail wind like this.
(upbeat music)
I had to stop for a bit of a breather
after that little effort.
I can see snow.
Actually it is getting a little bit chilly,
I really wish I brought an arm warmers or a jacket.
Oh, thanks.
Looks to me like we've got the finish line
because the fresh tarmac runs out, just up there,
but the road is still going upwards
and I don't think we've got to quite the top of the climb.
I'd really fancy just finishing it off, have we got time?
I mean I reckon it's only another 200 meters of climb.
Yeah, I've got time.
Come on, it's not that far.
Okay, thanks.
(inspiring music)
I've emerged from the forest to this incredible
moonscape of black rock and dust and gravel,
and now I really feel like I'm on a volcano.
There's just a few tenuous little plants clinging on to life
and this incredible view spread out below me.
Have to say, that I would not want to be here,
when that volcano kicks off.
- [Narrator] Mount Etna is a stratovolcano,
meaning that it's conical shape is built up of layers
of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash.
According to Greek mythology,
Zeus defeated the most deadly monster in existence,
and trapped him under Etna.
- Oh, honey, I'm getting a bit peckish.
I could feel a little bit of a
Winnie the Pooh moment coming on.
Mmm, I love honey.
(upbeat rock music)
I've really enjoyed riding up Mount Etna
as part of checking out stage six
of the 2018 Giro d' Italia.
I'm also very happy that I got to a little bit
further up than the pros do,
and also I get to enjoy this amazing descend,
while they all have to get into their cars
and drink recovery shakes.
If you wanna check out another epic road with GCN,
why not watch me and Matt, riding through Andalucia.