GT20 / ETAPE 11 : ZICAVU - ZONZA

In the heart of the wide open spaces of the south of the island, stage 11 of the GT20 links **Zicavu** to **Zonza**, at the foot of the majestic Aiguilles de Bavella. Over 44 km and with a climb of around 800 metres, this crossing combines high altitude panoramas, pastoral plateaux and emblematic mountain passes.

You're in the heart of the Corsican Regional Nature Park, an unspoilt area where the Taravo and Alta Rocca valleys are revealed in all their glory. From the very first kilometres, the road winds through meadows and forests, in an authentic mountain atmosphere.

You'll want to stop off at the Cuscione plateau, a vast high-altitude setting renowned for its remarkable biodiversity. On foot, this site offers a timeless interlude between pozzines, streams and infinite horizons.

The main difficulty of the stage is the ascent to **a Bocca di Vacca (Vaccia pass)**, culminating at 1,193 metres. Approximately 14 km long at an average gradient of 3%, the climb is steady, gradual and punctuated by typical encounters: pigs and cows roaming free are a reminder that you are crossing pastoral territory - caution is recommended.

At the junction between the Taravo valley and the Alta Rocca, the pass comes into view after a long flat stretch, offering a breathtaking view of the south of the island. The gentle, sometimes winding descent stretches for 13 km to Aullène (Auddè), before the final undulations to Zonza.

The final kilometres alternate between gentle climbs and flat stretches, with the spectacular silhouettes of the Aiguilles de Bavella in the background. A grandiose finish for an immersive stage, where nature, altitude and traditions shape the profound identity of Corsica.