Sellaronda Bike Day
Twice a year, during the ‘Sellaronda Bike Day’, the roads are open for bicyclists only.
Between 8:30 and 15:30 thousands of cyclists cycle their ‘Sellaronda‘.
The Sellaronda is a 55 kms long loop around the Sella group, with four passes to conquer along the way.
Since he was in the area anyway, C. joined them…
He saved himself the trouble of climbing the 12 kilometers or so to Santa Cristina, from where the road was closed.
So, he started his Sellaronda Bike Day with the first pass, the Sella – a total of 12.75 km, with 785 altimeters.
This is also the road to the Gardena, which starts way down in Ponte di Gardena – in Plan de Gralba you turn left to climb the final of that pass.
But since it was advised to cycle counterclockwise, he continued to the summit of the Sella…
After the descent towards Canazei, he continued with the Pordoi pass.
This was less demanding – the route joins this climb at around 1,820 meters, so only the last 7 kilometers were actually climbed.
The following Campolongo was almost a breeze – it’s (only) a short 4 km stretch at 6.8% from Arabba.
But it was quite busy at the summit’s rest stop…
But since he had seen the final pass – the Gardena – from the passenger seat of the car the day before, he didn’t go full speed.
This pass starts in Corvara and is the only one that you get to ride ‘in full’.
It’s also not too difficult, but a bit more demanding than the profile suggests, especially after the preceding climbs.
It is the one with the best views, although the Pordoi offers similar views from the Arabba side.
But the Pordoi was a downhill in today’s stage, so he didn’t stop to take pictures.
The Gardena is almost resembling the Stelvio from some vantage points, but it is less than half as long.
And a lot easier…
Still, a great conclusion to this Sellaronda Bike Day – the remaining descent into Val Gardena and further to Santa Cristina was just for the mileage…
Total for the day: 66.2 km / 2,641 altimeters.
Tomorrow he might be taking on the Kronplatz, but given the nature of the second part of that climb (unpaved), he’s not altogether sure about it.
Perhaps the Furkel Pass will have to do and the Würzjoch is close by as nice alternative…