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| 3 Passes |
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| Top of Sella |
We had a beautiful loop today which hit four passes, Sella, Gardena, Compolongo and Pordoi. Sella was the hardest of the day and was more of a Alpine climb compared to our climbs so far. Once you got to the top the views were by far the best of the trip. From the top you can look down and see the entire route you took up. After a really nice descent off the Sella you head right onto Gardena, which is the easiest of the climbs. There were some really fun switch backs to get you to the summit and once again you were rewarded with some great views looking back at your route to the top. Next up is the Compolongo and our lunch spot. In comparison to the other climbs this one paled, but we had lunch waiting for us so that was a nice carrot for the climb. Today's lunch was a sack lunch prepared by our Hotel Dolomiti. It was fun because they wrapped everything in foil and provided a surprise each time you opened up the packet. It was a ton of food, so much so I didn't finish. I hooked up my GoPro for descent off Compolongo and the ascent of Pordoi. The decent was another stellar descent with switch backs and views. The Pordoi started immediately and was not as hard as the Sella, but it was hotter and the legs already had three passes in them. Lynne was done for the day on this climb and as our van went by she hanged out the window and rang a cow bell. It gave the legs some extra umph! At the top we were greeted by the van and freshly cut fruit from Wiebe.
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| Jeff's Ride |
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| Inspiration on Pardoi |
Wiebe is a 47 year old ex-dancer and current sponsored triathlete. He is orignally from the Netherlands but has lived in Italy the last 40 Years. He speaks five languages and is a magnet for people. When he has the food table out locals are drawn to him as moth to a light. He has some Italian saying for everything and is quite a character. After the Pordoi it was a descent and a ride through the valley back to the Hotel. Lynne got back on the bike and we rode in together. I was glad because she took some nice pulls through the headwind in the valley on the way home.
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| Wiebe slicing fruit Pordoi |
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| 4th Pass Pordoi |
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| Wiebe and Jason at Group Dinner |
Dinner was a six course affair, pizza with ham, rissotto with leeks and ricotta, tagliatelli with ground vension, strawberry sorbet drink, pork loin with rosemary and finally a semi freddo chocolate cake! It was a great way to say goodbye to Moena and the Hotel Dolomiti.
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| Summit Store |
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| Top of Sella |
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| Top of Sella first pass |
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| Window Sella |
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| Passo Gardena Summit |
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| Looking at Gardena Climb |
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| Compolongo Summit |
Great blog Dan. I want to know if these climbs are really hard for you, about average or pretty easy compared to climbs you have made in the States. This trip sounds like your trip made in heaven. I like the Lynne feedback also.
ReplyDeleteAre all the riders in your tour keeping together? Do you all have about the same abilities, or is it every man for himself? I like the food discussion, because after all you are in Italy and the best food in the world.
ReplyDeleteThese climbs are very hard, they are steeper and longer than the climbs I normally take. I am backing off some because it is a long trip and I am on vacation and want to enjoy the scenery and not blow myself up and not be able to enjoy the next day.
ReplyDeleteAs a group we are pretty spread out in ability, but we have lots of break spots along the way and always a lunch stop, so we all tend to get back as a group. Our guides are really good and keep everyone happy.
ReplyDelete