Gavia Archives

Giro d’Italia 2020 Report

August 7, 2023August 14, 2020

So, how did I fare this Giro d’Italia 2020, compared to what I had in mind beforehand?

Well, I choked on the Mortirolo (from Mazzo) again and – barely – made it up the Bernina, all the way from Tirano.

The difference with last year being, that this did not happen during the same stage and that the Mortirolo was just as hot, but the Bernina was the coldest of all.

But, I kinda, sorta, had my revenge on the Mortirolo, as I was on its summit no less than four times, twice during the same stage.

I also ended up on the Stelvio summit three times, during my prologue and as finishes for stages 7 and 9.

And, I was able to complete the Maratona dles Dolomites, which had been on my to-do/wish list, since I first visited the Dolomites in 2011.

Not surprisingly, that stage (6) also came with the highest elevation difference (D+) of all stages: almost 4,250 meters.

Giro d’Italia 2020 Plans

February 25, 2022July 16, 2020

Contrary to my past ‘Grand Tours’, I’m not going to write a road book for my Giro d’Italia 2020.

Every time I put a lot of effort in it and while I usually manage to generally follow the stages I had in mind, I frequently have to change plans anyway.

This can be for any number of reasons, my advancing age probably not being the least important.

But, I’ve also suffered from a cyclist nodule and intense, hernia induced or incident related (back) pains.

Plus, the weather can be a force to reckon with and not seldom have I been cycling in near freezing conditions or ice cold rain one day, only to have my brain blown out because of the heat the next.

And while I have new climbs to discover during this Giro, I am already quite familiar with the area(s) and most of its climbs.

So, I can leave it that and you can stop reading if you’re no longer interested, but I’m writing down a few (loose) ideas anyway…

Tour de Suisse 2019 Stages – Part 1

February 25, 2022July 19, 2019

In a previous post, I have described the area around Slivaplana, our first base camp for my Tour de Suisse 2019.

This post provides more details on the possible stages and alternatives I have in mind and which I will probably not ride.

Although not for lack of trying, but just because most of my trip ideas are insane, given that I would like to ride every day and I’m not a world tour pro rider…

Another factor is, that there are many climbs, most of them with at least two alternative routes to cycle them, and I have only so many days during either part of my Tour de Suisse.

So, each stage below is described including alternatives – if you’d rather not read all of that, just wait for my post stage reports later on 🙂

The Gavia is frequently included in the Giro d’Italia – as Cima Coppi if the Stelvio or Agnel are not in it too – and it is legendary for the stage victory of Erik Breukink in 1988 and the infamous ‘bus ride’ by Johan van der Velde during that same stage.

With an altitude of 2,621m, it’s ranked 5th in the list of highest paved passes in Europe, if the Galibier is ranked without the loop over the tunnel.

You would do well to inform yourself about the weather conditions, specifically higher up the mountain.

Even with good weather in the valley, it’s not uncommon that the weather in the upper half of the climb is less comfortable – at the very least, it will almost always be chilly and windy.

Towards the end of all my ascends so far, I was forced to chance clothing and even then, I was glad I could get inside the refuge.

However, it’s not unlikely that there will be a little more comfortable days at the summit, I just didn’t get any…

Giro d’Italia 2015 – Stage 9

February 25, 2022June 22, 2015

Gavia Or Bust

I was thinking to get up the Bernina today, but as that would mean transferring to Tirano again, I changed my mind.

I decided to save the Stelvio for (probably) Wednesday, but the Gavia starts almost at my doorstep too.

So, I planned a trip over the Gavia, going down to Edolo after that to climb to Aprica from the other side.

But once down in Ponte di Legno, I changed my mind again…