Day 6 ( A LONG LONG DAY IN THE SADDLE)
Canazei/Passo de Sella,/Passo Pordoi/Arraba/Colle Santa lucia/Passo Giau/Pocol/Passo Falzerego/Passo Valporola/La Villa/Corvara/Passo Campolongo/ Passo pordoi/Canezai
The start out of Canezai up the Passo Sella lower half before it splits, is the same as day 2 but we take the right at hairpin No13 onto the climb of the Passo Pordoi
Passo Pordoi (from Canazei)
Length 12km ( 29 hairpins)
Starting at 1,440m & finishing at 2,239m
Average of………
having climbed this before we knew what to expect, it was more a case of what was to come and knowing we had to climb back up the other side at the end . I would say that the upper half (Pordoi half) from where the Sella & Pordoi split is the more difficult, very much the same for the first few km’s but then more difficult with more hairpins near the top. Cresting the top we stopped to put capes knee & arm warmers on, before the fast 9.2km descent to Arraba. Here after was a beautiful rolling descent to Rucava 1,311m, and looking down to the right Caprille and the road to the Fedaia pass and the lake at Alleghe all which we rode on day 1. Taking the right turn to Colle De Santa Lucia, a short climb which after all the descending makes the legs know it’s there!
Colle De Santa Lucia
Length 2.3km
Starting at ……..m & finishing at ……..m
Average of 7.5%
Passo Giau ( Caprille side)
Length 9.9km (& 29 hairpins)
Starting at 1314m & finishing at 2,236m
Average of 9.3%
Now we drove over this 3 yrs previous and I was in awe then, so I was a bit worried knowing we still had a long way back and that the weather could change in an instant ( how right I was). The weather was kind on the lower slopes with all excess clothing removed as we made the steady climb up in the baking sun, unlike the more popular climbs the roads were fairly quite. We barely spoke as we pushed the pedals just wanting to get to the top, a few bridges over a stream gave a short respite to the relentless grind up this hard climb. Nearing the top and the weather changed rather quickly, dark clouds everywhere and a few spots of rain. Nothing could be worse we were the furthest point from “home” a very quick picture at the top and straight onto the long 10km descent to Pocol open at the top you are soon descending through trees and past a couple of 10% signs, the rain was getting heavier so we were cautious on the bends with cars & m/bikes overtaking. Fingers aching from the braking you soon hit a slight uphill which after the miles and descending make the legs scream, the t junction right to Cortina & left to the duo of the Passo Falzarego & Passo Valporola (from Pocol)
Passo Falzarego & Passo Valporola (from Pocol)
Length 13km (Falzerego & Valporola)
Starting at 1,490m & finishing at 2,192km
Average of 5.4%
By now the rain is typical Cumbria (peeing it down) No rest for us as we pass a handful of riders who had caught us on the descent of the Giau parked up at a refuge ( restaurant) the start of the Falzerego/Valporola is easy enough with gradients of 3-4% a nice start even if it was throwing it down.
But Lynsey was having a bad moment and couldn’t face another climb, the weather didn’t help as we SLOWLY ground up the climb, thankfully about 2km from the top it stopped and as we passed the turn off for the Falzerego descent down to Andraz things looked good, a right and the final 2km push to the top of the Valporola. An easy 2km (not) but the thought of the 14km descent to La Villa helped, another quick stop for photo’s again fantastic scenery and a museum in an old fortress from the first world war worth a look for those with time! The descent was slower than most as I think the miles were starting to take there toll apart from the usual CLIF drinks & bars we hadn’t eaten anything foregoing the refuges in the haste to beat the weather . As would be expected for 14km the descent seemed to go on for ever arriving in La Villa 1,420m and capes were off taking the right hand turn for the short 4km to Corvara 1,522m, slightly uphill but bearable after the long descent. Hunger took over in Corvara and we stopped at a local patisserie for cakes. Out the cake shop and straight onto our 2nd to last climb of the day ,we now knew what to expect from here on in as we had climbed this and the Pordoi (our last climb) on day2
the Campolongo (from Corvara)
Length 5.8km
Starting at 1,522m & finishing at 1,875m
Average of 6.1%
As before the Campolongo 1,875m is a nice short climb ( thankfully) with only 353m of climbing, which we seemed to reach the top of rather quickly ( must be the cakes) nearing the top and we got a quick soaking which left the descent to Arraba 1,601m a slow careful one as the roads were swimming. By the bottom and the right turn to start the Pordoi the sun was out and the smiles on our faces as we knew we only had 9.2km more of climbing, two CLIF BLOKS each and we were ready.
The PORDOI (from Arraba)
Length 9.2km (33 hairpins)
Starting at 1,601m & finishing at 2,239m
Average of 6.9%
Max 8%
Now we had just done 67 miles and rode over 5 passes and to say our legs were feeling it was an understatement, but it seemed the easiest climb of the day the weather was sunny & warm the Marmottes were out playing in the final rays of the day (evening by now) a beautiful end to a fantastic ride, well almost we still had to get to the top, which soon arrived actually quicker than the first time we climbed it. The fast descent on bends recently resurfaced (some on the way out that day) were pure heaven with traffic down to a handful, back into Canezai and the last 3km to Campitello ended the day on 82miles Verdict on the day, a very hard ride with 3,550 metres of climbing over 6 passes ( 7 if you count Falzerego & Valporola separate) we were lucky even with the soaking on the falzerego that it wasn’t too cold but we both enjoyed the ride and the sense of achievement .
