Gardena Archives

Giro d’Italia 2015 – Stage 5

February 25, 2022June 17, 2015

Pinei & Alpe di Suisi

In 2011, I climbed the Pinei from Ponte Gardena and noticed a “split” near Castelrotto to the Alpe di Siusi.

Back then, I continued the route through Castelrotto, but for this year’s Giro, I looked up that climb which was not originally in the road book and I constructed a stage to it.

Leaving Corvara, I first climbed the Gardena from our front door, descended the 30+ kilometers to Ponte Gardena – with a stop for some more shopping in Selva – and then went up the same road as 4 years ago, when it was my warming up / prologue.

Strangely, I did not remember the bit with stretches of 11% before reaching Castelrotto and that wore me out more than I would have liked.

Giro d’Italia 2015 – Stage 2

April 2, 2022June 14, 2015

Würzjoch & Gardena

Because a ride to the start of the Würzjoch/Passo delle Erbe would mean a 20 kilometer descend to Piccolino to start with, I decided to pick that stage for today.

It would also involve the “whole nine yards” of the Gardena, from Ponte di Gardena.

Only two climbs – sounds like a rest day, right?

Well, okay – it was going to be a 130 kilometer round trip, but with an additional near flat of some 25 kilometers, between Bressanone and the Gardena, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem…

Giro d’Italia 2015 – Stage 1

February 25, 2022June 13, 2015

Valparola, Fedaia & Sella

(An alternative Sella Ronda)

I decided on the “clockwise” alternative of the stage I initially set, including the Fedaia from Rocca Pietore.

But I wish I hadn’t…

I first headed for La Villa and climbed the Valparola.

That already seemed to be harder than I remembered, but the descend of the Falzarego and onwards to Caprile didn’t do me a lot of good.

I hadn’t looked at the profile of the Fedaia – I just knew it was supposed to be “more challenging” than the climb from the other end, which was more or less a recovery ride in 2011.

And more challenging it was…

Giro d’Italia 2011 – Stage 2

June 9, 2022July 3, 2011

Sella Ronda Bike Day

Twice a year, the ‘Sella Ronda Bike Day‘ – a combination of four passes in a 55 kilometer loop around the Sella group – is open for bicyclists only.

Between 8:30 and 15:30 the roads are closed to motor vehicles and thousands of cyclists go out for their ‘Sella Ronda’.

Since he was in the area anyway, C. joined them…