Dolomites Biking

Alleghe

From Venice, take the bus into the mountains to Alleghe, gateway to the Alps. Stroll through town and stretch your legs. Enjoy dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants here with views over the lake and rest up for the week ahead.

Alleghe

Our guides will meet you right after breakfast to provide an orientation and bike fit. We’ll ride from Alleghe up the valley alongside the River Cordevoie to Caprile before climbing to the Ladin village of Arabba where we’ll enjoy a morning coffee and marvel at the Sella Massif, at the foot of Pordoi and Campolongo passes. The Ladin language is a traditional idiom spoken in some valleys of Veneto and Trentino Alto-Adige. From here, it’s a modest climb over Campolongo pass and then a glorious descent into stunning Corvara to our hotel. We’ll dine at one of our favourite restaurants this evening. Much of this region was Austrian until annexation by Italy after World War I, and the distinctive local cuisine reflects this; expect lots of speck, sauerkraut, knödel and strudel on the menus.

Riding Distance: 36 km; 1,285 m gain or 42 km; 1,500 m gain

Corvara

Today, we’ll ride one of the classic loops of the Dolomites, reversing part of yesterday’s route by first climbing Campolongo and descending into Arabba in the early morning. After a rolling ride to the base of Passo Giau, we’ll begin the challenging climb over this iconic mountain pass. The grade averages 9% over its 10 km ascent to the pass. We’ll arrive to a welcoming café which sits in a verdant pasture at the foot of the soaring Nuvolau and Averau mountains, with jaw-dropping views worthy of the effort to get there. After an exhilarating descent, we’ll climb over the Falzarego pass where we can visit the fascinating Forte tre Sassi, a mountaintop museum in an old fort that gives a glimpse into hardships that World War I soldiers faced, and the battles fought around the surrounding mountain passes. Back in Corvara, enjoy a celebratory beer; the locally brewed Colonial I.P.A. from the Bolzano brewery Batzen Bräu is a popular local choice.

Ride Distance: 84 km; 2,600 m gain

Corvara

If you are a Giro d’Italia follower, you’ve heard of the Sella Ronda circuit, with its 4 passes including Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, and Gardena. The Sella boasts the best views of the lot, the four Sella Towers to the left, the peaks of the Langkofel Group to the right. The pass at Pordoi has a memorial to perhaps Italy’s greatest professional cyclist, Fausto Coppi. There is a wonderful restaurant at St. Hubertus, where chef Norbert Niederkofler’s haute mountain cuisine has earned him 3 Michelin stars. Otherwise, a more casual option is Osteria Garsun, a family-run restaurant with a set menu of Ladin specialties might include such hearty items as panicia, vegetable-and-barley soup, and casunziei, or house-made half-moon ravioli served with melted butter, ground poppy seeds and Parmigiano cheese. Dessert typically includes a warm apple strudel and a parting shot of grappa. Whatever gastro treat you indulge in, let your friends back home know that you are ‘roughing it in the Dolomites’.

Ride Distance: 53 km; 1,780 m gain

Bormio

A morning shuttle (1h30) takes us north toward the Austrian and Swiss borders. Starting from Spondigna, climb perhaps the most enigmatic peak in all of the Dolomites, Stelvio where 48 switchbacks zig zag up over a distance of 22 km and 2,000 m! We’ll take in the view of Switzerland over lunch and then descend into Bormio, another picture-perfect village, and settle into our comfortable hotel.

Ride Distance: 50 km; 1,900 m gain or out and back from Stelvio: 43 km; 1,560 m gain

Bormio – Mortirolo 

Ride from Bormio to Tiolo along the Sentioro Valtellina, an amazing paved bike path that winds down the valley to the base of Mortirolo. You can climb up the easier way or continue descending to Mazzo di Valtellina and climb what Lance Armstrong says is one of the toughest climbs he has ever done. Marco Pantani, ‘Il Pirata’ made his name in 1994 when he rode it in just over 42 minutes. It’s a narrow twisting road with blessedly few vehicles and climbs relentlessly, averaging 10.5% over its 13 km. Descend on buttery smooth tarmac to Tiolo, where you can shuttle back to Bormio.

There are alternative options on this day, including an out and back continuing on the Sentioro Valtellina which continues all the way to Lake Como!

Ride Distance: 65 km; 1,400 m gain

Bormio – Gavia

For our final challenge of the trip, we’ll ride our favourite climb in the region: Gavia Pass. The climb from Bormio to Santa Caterina is gradual and then the real climb begins to Lago Bianco. Enjoy a refreshing drink here and then enjoy the descent that will rate as one of your favourites anywhere. If you have more in the tank, consider riding up to Cancano Lakes for a bonus ride. Celebration dinner anyone?

Ride Distance: 56 km; 1,375 m gain, Add-on: 18 km; 1,950 m gain

Departure Day

After breakfast, depart at your leisure. From Bormio’s nearby Tirano train station, trains reach Milan in 2h30.