The strada statale 39 is known as the main access road to the Italian Alps from Bergamo, the Lombardy plain and beyond. It leads to Aprica, Tirano and Bormio, and then up, up, up to the summit of the Passo dello Stelvio.
On Tuesday the SS39 will lead to the gates of hell for the 2017 Giro d'Italia and host the queen stage of the race, the so-called 'tappone', the first of five mountain stages before the final time trial to Milan. The fight to try to break Tom Dumoulin's grip on the maglia rosa starts here.
After two weeks of nervous racing, of jabs and body blows, attacks and chases, Dumoulin leads Nairo Quintana by 2:41, with Thibaut Pinot third at 3:21 and Vincenzo Nibali at 3:40. Behind them are a dozen others within 12 minutes of Dumoulin, all fighting for a shot at a podium place or in the top ten.
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Dumoulin's lead is significant, but the overall classification is still 'corto' as they say in Italy. It expected to open up significantly after the 222km haul from Rovetta to Bormio.
"I expect a lot of attacks by riders who want to win the Giro d'Italia. I think the gloves will come off," race director Mauro Vegni predicted on Italian television on Sunday, assuring everyone about the conditions of the Stelvio.
The risk of rain and snow has passed. The Stelvio will be closed to non-race vehicles to avoid the small risk of sparking avalanches. The summit of the Stelvio has been cleared of snow in recent weeks and is ready to host arguably the most spectacular stage of this year's Giro d'Italia.
Il doppio Stelvio
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