Passo Giau – road bike tours in Alta Badia

... of the Dolomites. Acclimatization and route reconnaissance lap - what awaits us on the second loop at Passo Giau 🤓🤠 Actually, my opinion is that you should saddle up the best horse for the tough adventures 🤔😎 However, the bike with Signore Maestro Zullo's frame only has a short derailleur cage, which can only accommodate a maximum of 29 teeth. On the advice of my teammate, I opted for the old 32-tooth bike: Passo Giau 10km, 900m elevation gain! The 32 teeth were useful, especially when you've already clocked up 2800m elevation gain 🤔😱 Master @Eddy (gruppo MOLTENI) will love the Gios ;)

The Passo di Giau is definitely in my top 3 of the most demanding ascents so far.

Valparola Pass (2192m) - Valparolapass Falzarego Pass (2105m) -Falzaregopass Giau Pass (2236m) - Campolongo Pass (1875m) - Campolongopass

La Dolce Vita Espresso Ride including an exciting last minute checkpoint crossing (11:40 a.m.) into the long circuit.. 😥 Almost had one espresso and one deck chair too many beforehand. But it went well again. Timing is everything. But it was consistently closed at 11:45 a.m. - a big disappointment for some with discussions. But the police solved it. Bottom line. Was a great event with André S. RSV Hachinger Tal, Hendrik Deyke, Kajetan Schäfer, Julian Häusler. Unfortunately the tracking was messed up again > obligatory tracking fuckup. Doesn't change the facts :-). Thanks guys and Dolo for this unforgettable event. Bottom line: Fantastic scenery. Great organization. Lucky for the weather. Good atmosphere & fun. Great team. Everyone stayed together. The last starting block is a bit annoying, because there is a lot going on on the course in the first part and you roll over the start 30 minutes after the starting gun. Oh, and I found the 250m 15% Average / 23% Max Pinarello ramp Mur de Giat at the end through the crowd to be a mega highlight. Everyone had to go all out just to get up there. Extremely entertaining for the spectators

Alpine tour 2024, fourth day: over the Campolongo Pass down to Corvara and behind La Villa turn right to the Valparole Pass. Unfortunately there is a lot of traffic: motorcycles, motorhomes, buses. Exhaust fumes and noise. Close overtaking when driving in the opposite direction (the 🇩🇪 drivers are mostly the commendable exception). From the Valparole Pass you drive straight down to the Falzarego Pass. Lots of traffic. Continue downhill towards Cortina and then turn right to the Passo Giau. Used to be an insider tip, but not anymore. Very popular with motorcyclists. The descent to the south with many switchbacks is fast and well paved. It's fun. Then halfway up the valley to Arabba. Always wonderful views of the mountains.

Today, it was Ciao Giau as we said goodbye, thankfully in a less warm weather. At Falzarego, I met the Lavaredo Ultra Trail runners for the first time; I saw them again at Giau. It's a complete mystery to me how anyone can run 120 km through the high mountains. But the flatland Tyroleans in sandals probably think the same thing about the racing cyclists.

The most beautiful tour I've done with the racing bike so far. 5 stars for landscape, experience, route & demand 😇

Start in Corvara and then via La Villa and the village of San Cassiano to the first ascent. - Passo Valparola 2200 meters. After 1 km junction Falzarego (the valley station to Lagazuoi). Then 900 hm fantastic descent. - Here "below" the small Huckel - Colle Santa Lucia - with a stop at the Ristorante Grill Bar Belvedere, an excellent snack and an exclusive place with a mega view of the valley!! - Passo Giau 2234 meters, an average of 10% gradient, sometimes up to 20%!! Stop at the summit restaurant! - Passo di Falzarego 2097 meters. - Campolongo Pass 1880 meters.