Bormio to Bolzano
A long, tough day in the rain but I managed to get up and down Stelvio which was one of my main ambitions on this trip, especially after having such a horrible time on the Nufenen pass. There was a lot of fussing about the weather in the group this morning but I prefer to get wet on a 13 mile steep climb rather than overheat. I got about halfway up before I needed to put my rain jacket on and I pootled up, keeping my heart rate at an acceptable level, completing the climb in just over two hours which I was really happy with. Of course I had to stop occasionally to take photos…
The great aspect of riding with a group is the van support, I had packed a bag with multiple warm layers and could have had a lift down the hill but decided I would have a go at the descent. I may have broken the record for the slowest ever descent and my hands, neck and shoulders were so sore but I did it!
There were 48 hairpin bends or ‘tornanti’ which sounds more appropriately like torture.
When I eventually got down to the bottom, I donated some of the multiple layers back to Marten in the van and cycled along a very mucky bike path by the river. Bob the bike is used to such dirty treatment but the more expensive bikes in the group must have been outraged.
Lunch was a full salad and spagbol in a restaurant which was delicious but really should have been followed by a nap rather than another 40 miles of cycling.
The route was lovely along a smooth, flat bike path sandwiched between a train line and a river. Once it eventually stopped raining, the view was of mountains, apple trees, more apple trees and picturesque houses. We are now in South Tyrol which feels more Austrian than Italian.
We were instructed to stop off at a garage on the outskirts of Bolzano to give the bikes a wash before we got to the hotel, I was also need of a good wash!
The great aspect of riding with a group is the van support, I had packed a bag with multiple warm layers and could have had a lift down the hill but decided I would have a go at the descent. I may have broken the record for the slowest ever descent and my hands, neck and shoulders were so sore but I did it!
There were 48 hairpin bends or ‘tornanti’ which sounds more appropriately like torture.
When I eventually got down to the bottom, I donated some of the multiple layers back to Marten in the van and cycled along a very mucky bike path by the river. Bob the bike is used to such dirty treatment but the more expensive bikes in the group must have been outraged.
Lunch was a full salad and spagbol in a restaurant which was delicious but really should have been followed by a nap rather than another 40 miles of cycling.
The route was lovely along a smooth, flat bike path sandwiched between a train line and a river. Once it eventually stopped raining, the view was of mountains, apple trees, more apple trees and picturesque houses. We are now in South Tyrol which feels more Austrian than Italian.
We were instructed to stop off at a garage on the outskirts of Bolzano to give the bikes a wash before we got to the hotel, I was also need of a good wash!
It was quite a late finish today so I am skipping the group dinner in favour of a horizontal picnic, more climbing is on the way tomorrow and hopefully more sunshine.
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