The 1st Rampigada Santa 2012 will take place Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 10:00 on the Scala Santa road, Trieste. The event, which will take place at the end of the European Mobility Week (www.mobilityweek.eu), is divided into two parts. The first event is a time trial race for bikers and runners (registration is mandatory and costs 15 EUR), while the second event is non-competitive in which the road will remain closed, which will allow ordinary citizens, fans, and curious to follow it safely. Thus, they will find that there is no need to go to the Alps to face hard climbs and that you can reach the karst plateau from the city center in less than an hour's walk. Special guest of this first edition will be Simone Temperato, better known as Magico Tempe (www.magicotempe.com), who, according to his motto “The impossible does not yet exist,” will cover the entire route on one wheel.
In Trieste, citizens’ use of bicycles is rather limited. The reason – or should we say excuse? – are the many climbs that shape the topography of the city and discourage most citizens to travel by bicycle or on foot. Scala Santa can be considered the mother of all these dissuasive climbs of Trieste. This historic slope connects the populous district of Roiano to the Karst (Carso). The road starts at the intersection of Via de Villan Bachino, Via Montorsino, and Via Giusti, at an altitude of only 18 meters above sea level, and after approximately 2,000 meters of curves, ramps, cobblestone streets, and 326 meters in altitude, reaches the Obelisco at 343 meters above sea level. The slope has an average gradient of 16.2%, with peaks of almost 20%, and never falls below 10%. These slopes, the cobblestone surface, and the idea of tackling it, are the basis of its legendary fame. Scala Santa is a very challenging climb. Any athlete who has a sense of sacrifice and who cares about sports performance has competed on this ramp, the “Rampigada Santa” is the perfect training ground for time trial!
The motto of the Rampigada Santa might be: “If you can do the Scala Santa on foot or by bike ... you can walk and bike everywhere.”
It is obvious that because of its steepness Scala Santa has its shortcomings in challenging the concept of sustainable mobility. On the other hand, it does just that – because its extreme nature makes people aware of mobility, human strength, sustainable mobility, and the use of public transport.
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