Doppio Stelvio – loop tour

Until now I had only done the Prato allo Stelvio side several times and never that of Bormio and from Switzerland. Destiny would have it that in the same days my dear friend Andrea and I in Bormio and I in Trafoi so this morning I went to meet him to do the Bormio side together and to return down the Swiss side. In my opinion the most beautiful is definitely the Prato side, but I think they are the same as difficulties even if the Swiss side I only go downhill

I retraced the same tour as last year, therefore starting from Lasa (BZ) following the first stretch of the cycle path that leads to the Resia Pass. In my opinion it is the best. Today the weather was generous, the view was generous and the portion of strudel at "Tibet" was generous. The waitress's neckline is also generous, it must be admitted. It would be enough to get you through the day. Instead of the climb, I want to talk about the descent along the Swiss side: it is less spectacular but much greener than the Italian side and I think that next year I will do the tour in an anti-clockwise direction just to be able to enjoy more time on that side of the Stelvio: it doesn't have to be an original idea because there was only me going down, while a lot of "Swiss" went up. Still in Switzerland, at a certain point I avoided the main road and took a cycle route (or two immediately following, I didn't understand). It's beautiful, mostly dirt road, it starts at km52, right at the end of the descent from Cima Coppi, and ends at km62 just before Malles Venosta, where we are already in Italy. Last year it was interrupted halfway due to the renovation work which has now been completed (it seems good to me). It is worth doing this, rather than taking the main road of Val Mustair. https://youtu.be/1csDQkv3aBw?si=tUE4QZzBtAEwJchW

22 years ago I drove over the Stilfser Joch - at that time still with full camping equipment 😉 bike + luggage approx. 40 kg 😎 Today it was much easier in dream weather. The traffic was okay - almost as many cyclists as motorcyclists 😉 The entire route is really impressive and the descent from the Umbrail Pass was also great to drive. You don't have to like the hype at the top of the pass 🙈 In the end I have the feeling of driving into an oven - it was so hot down in the valley 😂

"At least once in your life you have to do it..." and so I did it. I was terrified about the difficulty, but they were exaggerations: definitely a demanding climb, but it can be done without fear and without damage, just take your time. Fearing the cold, which is usually notable on Cima Coppi, I set off covered up too much. Halfway through, however, I took off the thermal and throughout the tour I was pleasantly in short sleeves. My departure was from Lasa, then from the Bolzano side, following for a short stretch the beautiful cycle path that leads to Passo Resia; up to Trafoi the climb is nothing special, but the beauty comes later: the sign indicating 47 hairpin bends already saws your legs just looking at it. But like I said, it comes along pretty well. You meet many cyclists, of different nationalities, and many more women pedaling than you would usually expect: it's always a good sign for the movement. There was also the madman who had it done in "Graziella"... I inserted the photos because you can't believe it. But you also come across many motorcycles and cars which are sometimes really annoying, especially due to the noise: I remind you that on 2 September there will be the Stelvio Bike Day where access to motorized vehicles will not be allowed. At the top, all kinds of stalls and a bit of tranquility only at "Tibet", a few hundred meters away, with an excellent view from the terrace of the bar. Good beer and good strudel. On the way back, I descended along the Swiss side: a very pleasant, fast descent, perfect road surface, it seems to me greener than the Italian one, even if less scenic. In Malles Venosta along the road you meet the church of San Leonardo a Laudes: I was very sorry not to be able to enter, it has a couple of frescoes on the outside but inside there are many others and a quantity of wooden statues, plus a very well preserved triptych. It seems that the caretaker should be called, a certain Mr. Wolf (like the one in Pulp Fiction... "I'm Mr. Wolf: I solve problems") but I have to find out better, I'll be back. However I agree: the Stelvio must be done at least once in a lifetime.

Today when it rained up to the Stelvio Pass at the summit it was only 3 degrees. But despite the bad weather, it was just great. Then back down over the Umbail Pass and back to Prad.

Caution in bad weather: Rain and fog dangerous

Harder than expected. 24 km of constant uphill between 6 and 12%, 1900 m in one go, 48 bends, it takes a while 😰. But great views🥰. Simply awesome when you look down on all the serpentines from above. And Schnucklmaus was up there before me😉 Lots of cyclists and even more motorcyclists on the road, who usually race up the route very loudly. Next time, it's better to have a car-free day (August 31, 2024)

3 times up in 5 days, you don't have to say more: it's just wonderful to drive up there. Today it was extremely windy, side wind in the Müstair, later headwind. The first time that I noticed this with the high-profile rims.