The Monster Day!

View up Mortirolo

The reason we trained for this trip was because of this day.  The Mortirolo and Gavia Loop, 112KM with 3000 meters of climbing (11,000 Feet)!  The Mortirolo averaged over 11K @11%, the Passo Gavia 17KM @ 8%.

Pantani Monument

The morning began with a battle for breakfast!  A French cycling group checked into our hotel the day before and they happened to be doing our same route.  Breakfast normally is a calm nice leisurely affair, but today the whole French squad was waiting for the breakfast door to open and it became a free for all.  The food disappeared as if locusts had descended.  It threw off our normal routine.

Lynne and Jess

 The ride to the base of the first climb of the day was really nice, almost all downhill and through a valley with really great weather and amazing view after amazing view.  I have yet to tire of them.

Mortirolo COLD Aranciata

 The Mortirolo climb was all about your breathing, the pitches were so consistently steep you were forced into your upper limits of oxygen intake.  I did not even feel my legs during the climb.  The climb is on unbelievably narrow roads, that are pretty much tree covered.  (note from Lynne who was a Vanimal on this climb: passing a cyclist on this road is HAIRY.  You have to squeeze by, almost brushing the cyclist while teetering on the edge of the road.  Occasionally a car will meet you coming the other way, and one car has to lean over the edge and stop, while the other car eeks by, everyone holding their breath.)  It was a huge relief that it was cool so we did not have the heat to worry about.  You would occasionally get a glimpse through the trees into the valley below and get an idea of how fast you gain elevation.

The Pain of Mortirolo

 The top of the Mortirolo is just a summit, there is nothing up there but a sign.  But there were so many people, i.e. French, Brazilians, Trek Travellers, climbing the pass that there was a lot of action up there.  As people would summit, there was cheering and cow bell ringing, it was really fun!

View from Passo Gavia

After a great descent, we ate lunch and then headed for a 30KM ride to the top of the Passo Gavia.  The Gavia, as opposed to the Mortirolo, was all about legs.  My legs were holding me back as I couldn't peddle hard enough to get my heart rate up.  The Gavia is big and open.  You get amazing view after amazing view, which you need to use to motivate you as the climb is a sufferfest.

Bike and Beer!

Our Room - Named Stelvio

Wiebe tricking Lynne

Giro Art Top of Gavia

Trek Van top of Gavia

 The van was a very welcome sight.  The Gavia was really hard after having the Mortirolo in your legs (and even without having the Mortirolo in your legs!).  At this point all the climbs of the week were finished, mission accomplished!  One more incredible descent took us back to our hotel and our celebration dinner.

View from the Moose Table

Gavia Conquered

Way up High!

Celebration Dinner

After dinner the guides treated us to a slide show of the week set to cool music.   Great way to wrap up the trip.