Gilberto Simoni (Team Saeco) rides towards victory in 2003 (Image credit: AFP)
Mexican climber Julio A. Perez Cuapio (Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo) in action (Image credit: AFP)
Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) climbs to 24th on the Zoncolan in 2003 (Image credit: AFP)
Cadel Evans (BMC) couldn't match Ivan Basso on the climb (Image credit: AFP)
David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) holds onto the maglia rosa (Image credit: AFP)
Gilberto Simoni (Team Saeco) puts 30 seconds into Stefano Garzelli in 2003 (Image credit: AFP)
Ivan Basso returned to the sport after his ban to win the Giro d'Italia in 2010 (Image credit: AFP)
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) put over a minute into his closest rival (Image credit: AFP)
Raimondas Rumsas and Marco Pantani climbing in 2003 (Image credit: AFP)
After three weeks of racing the 2014 Giro d'Italia reaches its final major test on stage 20 with a ragged and weary peloton taking on the mammoth task of the Monte Zoncolan.
When the climb was included in the corsa rosa four years later, Simoni was at it again, this time winning ahead of his then teammate Leonardo Piepoli and a young up-and-coming Andy Schleck.
The climb was left out until 2010 when Ivan Basso soared clear on his way to claiming the stage and eventually the overall title, with the climb used a year later as Igor Anton skipped clear of a group containing Alberto Contador.
More than one route to the top of the climb has been used in the past, and it returns for Saturday’s crucial stage. Movistar's Nairo Quintana will be looking to seal his overall win with another stage, while Fabio Aru (Astana), Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r-La Mondiale) – who incidentally was 17th on the climb in 2007 – will all be in contention.
Before then, enjoy this gallery of race photos, as well as our stage preview.
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