Tour of Italy 2019 Day 2

Overview: 70 kilometres; 4hrs duration; 2000m Vertical

Some days you win. Some Days you lose. Some days it rains!

Today’s forecast was not great and was always going to make the day a hard day for our touring crew. Another four mountain passes in store including the HC Passo Fedaia. A climb that puts fear into the heart of many a rider. The climbs on our Marmolada loop included Passo Campolongo, Passo Fedaia, Passo Sella & finally the Passo Gardena. Our forecast was for light rain most of the day, some snow on the higher slopes and heavier rain later in the day.

The forecast didn’t seem to deter our riders as they rolled out under a sprinkling rain. They stayed together as they rode for Corvava, but they would break up on the climb of the Passo Campolongo. The Campolongo is 5.5km @ 5.7%, so a nice little warm up. The rain was getting a little heavier the higher they climbed and by the time they reached the summit it had become sleet.

After regrouping at Arabba, the group travelled along the road following the valley. The rain had set in comfortably at this point. Despite the rain the group stopped often to take some photos of the stunning valley. A quick turn off the the right and the group was descending once again, heading for the start of Passo Fedaia. A quick stop to drop some layers for the climb and
our guide forcing some food into them and they were ready to climb the might Passo Fedaia.

Passo Fedaia is quite simply a beast of a climb. 12.8km at 7.6% does not tell the full tale of the ascent. It starts out with a nasty 1.5km at 10%. Enough to get them all warm again. After about 3 – 4 kms of 2-3%, it takes off again. reaching as high as 15% before your reach the switchbacks on the upper Passo Fedaia. Our crew were absolutely eating this up despite the weather. By the time they reached the upper switchbacks of the last 4 kms it was snowing reasonably heavily. The last 4 kms are tough and our crew all crossed the summit in a complete white out. A couple of photos at the frozen lake then it was time to descend for some lunch in Canazei.

A quick review of the weather by our guides, resulted in a change of plan. Heavier weather was coming and so some corrective action was required. Our lead guide decided to take the other guide and two of the riders back over Passo Sella to drop them back at our accommodation. However Paso Sella was shut due to a snow land slide, so thinking on their feet they headed back and over Passo Pordoi. The snow was falling quick thick, so the lead guide made the decision to drop the three in Arabba for coffee (and ride home over Passo Campolongo if it cleared), while he would return to pick up the other six riders in one go.

The weather was really bad on the return over Passo Pordoi. Once over the summit, it started to clear up with only a light falling of snow. Marmotte’s frolicked in the snow as David, headed down in the van in search of his group of six. He didn’t have to wait long as he found them 2.5km’s from the summit. David quickly packed all bikes in the back of the van, made sure they all had food and water and commenced the drive back over the Pordoi for the third time for the day.

Again the weather go worse as the minivan crossed the summit of Passo Pordoi. At this stage, all six riders were very happy with the decision to jump in the van. By the time they reached Arabba, the three earlier riders had departed and ridden back over Passo Campolongo, headed for home. It was a long day for everyone despite the riding being reduced, they will still sleep very well tonight.