Giro d’Italia | Bike Rebel Without a Cause

Giro d’Italia 2011 – Stage 9

November 14, 2025July 14, 2011

Umbrail

(And a bit of Fuorn)

The weather will continue to be ‘rainy’ for the remainder of this vacation.

Perhaps with the exception of tomorrow, when it’s expected to stay (at least) dry.

C. will use that day to climb the Stelvio from Bormio and the Gavia from Ponte di Legno.

Sunday there is the ‘Mapei Day’ which means the Stelvio will be closed to motorized traffic and there will be all sorts of sporting events (roller blading, running, cycling).

Would be nice, but the weather looks really bad for that day.

Giro d’Italia 2011 – Stage 8

November 14, 2025July 13, 2011

Gavia & Tonale

Gavia info

For the first time during this (cycling) holiday, the rain spoiled (half) the trip.

C. was forced to postpone the climb of the Gavia from Ponte di Legno.

He did manage the climb from Bormio and that of the Passo del Tonale through the rain, though.

But eventually it was raining cats and dogs, so T. told him to stop…

Giro d’Italia 2011 – Stage 7

November 14, 2025July 12, 2011

Foscagno, Forcola & Bernina

(Well, the last few km of the Bernina anyway)

Since the climb to the Foscagno pass is not really starting before leaving Valdidentro, C. had an early start this morning.

The road to it runs in front of the hotel…

So, at 9:25 he took off for the first 15 kilometers of climbing today.

And since he had planned quite a trip today, that early start was necessary too.

Giro d’Italia 2011 – Stage 6

November 14, 2025July 11, 2011

Mortirolo

Mortirolo info page

Before checking in to the Alpen Hotel in Valdidentro, Toerbeest made a stop in Mazzo di Valtellina, so Cyclopaat could climb the Mortirolo.

This climb is considered to be one of the toughest in Europe, but after the Zoncolan, any climb (here) seems like a piece of cake 🙂

Besides, the Mortirolo offers more shady – tree covered – stretches than the Zoncolan, which makes a BIG difference under sunny conditions.

Giro d’Italia 2011 – Stage 5

November 14, 2025July 6, 2011

Monte Zoncolan

Zoncolan info page

We were moving to Mestre today, to participate in the Open European Mahjong Championship.

But since C. insisted he should definitely climb the Monte Zoncolan, they made a ‘little’ detour to Ovaro.

After all, it didn’t look that much of a detour on the map, but on Italian (secondary) roads…

He should have known from the transfer two days before from Vipiteno to Longega for the Furcia.

So, after another 3 hour drive, he was actually not so fresh anymore, but now that they were here anyway, he might as well go for it…