An early rise is always required to get into position for the Gran Fondo. With our group perfectly poised right near the start line, the build up of excitement and anticipation for the start of the ride, is palatable.The mass start is controlled chaos, with your position on either side of the road being critical, with a round-a-bout looming early that has the medio fondo turning left and the gran fondo turning right. This is something that you need to get right or you could be in for a very long day.We have closed roads as we head out of Cuneo on our way towards Monterosso Grana, which is where the day's work will commence at an altitude of 822m and the valley closing in.We then ascend 1689m in 22k, giving us an average of 7.5, but with a few pinches that head into the 14% territory. Yes, this is a serious challenge but it delivers a very high reward in an absolutely awe inspiring landscape of open Alpine rock strewn plains and craggy peaks, dissected by a tiny ribbon of tarmac that just keeps disappearing around the next bend, the next crest.The terrain then flattens out a touch as we get closer to the peak at 2,481m, and I'm amazed to notice that I'm riding above the clouds…..what a sensation.We stop at the monument to Marco Pantani at the top of the pass to refuel with the other riders, before we buckle in for a cracking descent. You hug the edge of the mountain, before seeing the free flowing road laid out in front of you. It just goes on and on through the green m