To the Stilfser Joch

Great weather caught, the climb is sometimes brutal, you don't get anything for free, but it's worth it, behind every bend there is a new great view uphill and downhill

Due to the rather modest weather forecast for the next few days, it was already at six this morning from Austria to Italy. At ten on the dot I sat on the bike, ready (?) To conquer the Passo della Stelvio. With Martin from Minten, whom I met on the way as a fellow sufferer, we tormented our way down the pass road up to 2,757 meters in bright sunshine and temperatures up to 36 ° C over countless bends. What a great feeling it was to have reached the top! After one of the legendary bratwursts and a cola, we relaxed and rolled over the Swiss Umbrail Pass back to the Vinschgau.

Probably the best route I've ever ridden. The view is simply breathtaking. Very good road surfaces, the descent through Switzerland is simply brilliant and there is hardly any traffic. On the uphill, however, there are an extremely large number of motorcycles that are faster than average and louder. The radar function is highly recommended here...

Change of location to Val Müstair. With the rest of the day that had started, I was able to crank up the Stelvio Pass in a wonderfully relaxed manner. I think the flood of images speaks for itself. The traffic was limited - in the upper part consisted mainly of sports car drivers who documented their reckless drive with all kinds of cameras. The Umbrailpass is then practically free on the descent. I only had to share it with the many small furry animals (marmots, right?) that scurried around everywhere.

Stiffl...Stilfl...Stilfserjoch! The air was thin up there - and had to be shared with a lot of people. Today the Stiffl...Stilfl...Stilfserjoch was closed to motorized traffic (except for e-bikers, but to my surprise they were mostly cannon fodder). 😈

04.10.2022 Dry and sunny weather is forecast, with temperatures staying just under double digits at the top. So it's ideal for tackling the 48 hairpin bends. At 10.20 a.m. the ascent begins gently in Prad. So you can roll up before the steeper sections begin. It is positive that there is very little traffic on the entire route up to the top, despite the good weather. You know it differently from the summer. Once at the top, a few photos are taken, of course also of the pass sign. Unfortunately, it has become a bad habit to cover almost all signs with stickers. After the obligatory photos, of course also from the Tibet hut, which is higher up but easily accessible by bike, there is the obligatory sausage with cabbage and bread at Bruno's (from Prato, the first barbecue stand on the right). It's traditional and always tastes delicious. If you don't necessarily think of such a hearty meal when you arrive at the top of the pass, a few minutes pass through the photos and the possible increase in clothing and the appetite announces itself. An advantage if you only have to go to Glurns or the surrounding area. If you still want to climb the Ofen or Reschen Pass afterwards, you should perhaps consider whether your digestive tract will play along. The descent over the Umbrail Pass, which you hardly notice from this side (the clean pass sign also testifies to this) is always a pleasure. The fact that a section of gravel was split a few years ago also contributes to this. If you turn right in Santa Maria in the direction of Vinschgau, you probably have to reckon with a good headwind. At least in the afternoon I have never experienced anything else. Conclusion: If you can, you should use the low-traffic time for an ascent.

Spontaneously on our way back from the Dolomites, we finally conquered the Stelvio. There's not much to say about it, except that it's supposed to be one of the absolute highlights for racing bikes and should be on every racing cyclist's bucket list... well. It's impressive, the queen of all mountain passes... but unfortunately it's also far too busy. The motorbikes are the main ones... so please be careful! One of these gentlemen almost caught me when I overtook him! Anyway, another entry less on the bucket list, which I'm sure won't pop up again anytime soon! 🇮🇹🚴🚴‍♀️⛰️🇨🇭

Up the Passo today, 25 km climb with 1780 hm in partly humid weather 🚵‍♂️🥵 The landscape makes up for the torture, it was the 2nd time today 💪 From Prad 🇮🇹 to the Stelvio and over the Umbrail Pass 🇨🇭 back down and back to Prad.