Officially the 2014 Giro d'Italia route will not be unveiled until Monday October 7, the day after the Giro di Lombardia, but rumours are beginning to appear in Italian media with regards to the Corsa Rosa. Reportedly, a double climb of the infamous Monte Zoncolan, considered one of the toughest climbs used in professional racing, using the steep road up from Priola for the first time.

According to the Messaggero Veneto newspaper RCS Sport technical director Mauro Vegni will make a final judgement before the end of the month but RCS Sport seems encouraged by the feat of the double climb of L’Alpe d'Huez during this year's Tour de France.

As said by reports in the local Italian media, the 2014 Giro d'Italia will climb the Zoncolan from Ovaro and then descend to the valley before climbing back up the Zoncolan from the never before used Priola road.

On previous occasions, the Giro d'Italia has finished at the summit of the Zoncolan in 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2011. Gilberto Simoni was triumphant on the Zoncolan in 2003, climbing from the Sutrio side and again in 2007 from the Ovaro side. Ivan Basso was first to crest the top in 2010 on his way to winning his second Giro d'Italia, while Igor Anton won in 2011, again riding from the Ovaro side.

The Priola climb, according to Messaggero Veneto, is nine kilometres long and has an average gradient of 13% with some sections at 23% which dwarfs the challenges presented by the L’Alpe d’Huez. It is a meagre pathway that meanders up the side of the Zoncolan but is well textured. Teams are likely to use motorbikes to mechanical support to their riders instead of team cars.