The Dolomites - Part II

Day 3 saw some tired legs. Beard was in such a state he didn't even get on his bike. Day 2 stats, in summary, were:

144km
3,300m climbed
7 hours 45 in the saddle

So we decided to do a shorter route known as the Sellaronda, probably one of the most renowned and beautiful tours in the Dolomites. The route forms the first part of the Maratona des Dolomites, a famous Italian sportif similar to the epic Marmotte or Etape. This was also to form part of the route that we would attempt the following day.

The Sellaronda connects the four Ladin valleys in the Dolomites. Starting in La Villa (where we were based), warming up along the first 5km to Corvara, you take a right past the Val Gardena World Cup ski course and up the first 11% gradient via Colfosco where we admired the Sella Mountain Group to the left and the Cir Peaks to the right.

After a short descent from the Passo Gardena we started the ascent from the Passo Sella. To the right of this is the Sasso Lungo Group of mountains, the most imposing of the Dolomites massifs. The picture below shows our first pee stop on our way between Gardena and Sella. Stunning back drop for it.

During the course of the morning we acquired a new member of the group who became our American friend Doug. More on him later. He brought the average age up somewhat but he seemed amused by the TGS banter (this was key as it sometimes degenerated to pretty low / random levels) and certainly didn't bring the standard of cycling down.

After a steep downhill run from the Passo Sella, we enjoyed a relatively steady 6-8% ascent to the Passo Pordoi. Having taken advantage of Flynn's mechanical failure at the bottom of the climb he towed Williams up to join me for the last couple of km's. About a kilometre off the top there was a bit of jostling for position. Flynn looked like he was going to make a move having caught up with me, Williams even took the front for a while (7-10m), but before anyone got any further away I put my toe down to leave both gentlemen firmly back where they belonged. There wasn't much of a fight as we all soon realised our heart rates had just gone through the roof. Luckily not far to the welcoming committee at the top where Doug kindly took a team shot, minus Beard this time. 

Lunch was a slightly less frantic affair with apricot and chocolate cookies for pudding (thanks Doug) and even a little time to soak up some rays all in the knowledge that we had a relatively easy trip home.

Then downhill once again to Arabba and back up the, well known by now, Compolongo leading back down to Corvara with the Sassongher Mountain in the background (see yesterday's favourite photo). 

Day 3 stats:

65km
1,800m climbed
A steady 4-5 hours (who's counting?) in the saddle

Bish bash bosh.