This is one of three or four trips that Leonie and I did to Süd Tirol in early spring. Unfortunately I never wrote about this trip at the time. It’s now April 2020 but let’s see if I can summarise it.
This was the first trip we did. It was Easter, and we drove down to get some early season cycling training in the warmer climate. We stayed at a campsite just out of Bolzano. It was pretty average but that didn’t really matter as we were here to cycle.
We went for a short ride up the hill near our campsite when we arrived stopping once the road ran out.
Short ride on arrival.
The following day we went for a ride up the valley towards Brixen. We turned around at Klausen and headed up into the hills a bit. From there you could see a few dolomites off far in the distance.
1) We headed North-East up the valley towards Brixen on our first full day of cycling. The cycle ways around Bolzano are really good. You can stay off the road the whole way. We stopped for something to eat in Klausen and then headed up into the hills a wee way.
2) From the hills above Klausen we could see over to the dolomites and the big peaks covered in snow.
3) We could see the dolomites off in the distance looking very nice with snow.
Above: Nice ride along the bike path out to Brixen and back via some hills. Sunny and reasonably warm.
On Sunday we cycled back up the valley taking a right into the hills. It was Easter Sunday so the shops were closed so instead we decided to stop at a small restaurant for lunch. Then we headed on and up taking in Niggerpass and finally Costalunga. It was pretty cold and there were still people skiing at the ski fields that we passed on the way. The descent was long and cold but nice except for one terrifying tunnel right near the end. I didn’t expect it to be so long or so dark. We sped down through it and were passed by some aggressive motorists on the way.
1) We stopped for sustenance on our ride up into the dolomites.
2) Leonie cycling in the dolomites.
3) Dolomites and snow.
4) We cycled up from the valley. It was pretty cold once we were high up. Me posing at Nigerpass.
5) Posing at Costalunga Pass. We had a long descent from here which was nice except for an absolutely terrifying tunnel. It was really dark and we were passed by aggressive drivers who tooted at us. I was thankful we had our little bike lights at least.
Above: The weather was not quite as sunny but it was still clear enough and we headed up the valley and then up to Nigerpass and on to Karerpass. The road up was pretty nice with good views of the Rosengarten massif. There was a small 24% graded section but so small it was over before I knew it had begun. The descent was long and straight but had a fairly terrifying tunnel at the end.
Above: The same map of the route.