Wednesday June 28

We’ll travel from Milan Malpensa airport at 12:00pm to My Kosher Hotel in the Dolomites and get checked in. If you’re picking up a rental bike, we’ll get that as well. We’ll set up our bikes  before Minchah and dinner at the hotel.

Thursday June 29

Now that we’ve settled in, today will be an exhilarating ride. On today’s ride:

• The stunning blue-green waters of one of the lagos of the Dolomites.
• The last road built to reach a Dolomites’ mountain pass, thus connecting two valleys. The actual road was first built and paved in 1986. Previously, there was just a narrow mule track mainly used by farmers for forestry services.
• A Hors Categorie climb.
• A National Park.
• The most climbing of all days on tour.
• More hairpin turns than we care to count.
• The gorgeous views of the Dolomites throughout.

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Friday June 30

Today we’ll climb 5 famous mountain passes. Our first pass is at 7,346 ft. (2,239 m.) elevation, with a vertical climb of 2,621 ft. (799 m.). The climb is almost 7.5 mi. (12 km.) long, and there are 27 hairpin turns. This pass has featured in the Giro d’Italia almost 40 times!

After a short break, we’ll descend and begin the climb (2,293 ft. / 699 m.) towards our second pass – at 6,906 ft. (2,105 m.) elevation. No other Dolomite Pass takes you through the Dolomite limestone – as one of the hairpin turns is carved into the mountain.

After a food break at the pass, we’ll continue up to our third pass – at 7,113 ft. (2,168 m.) elevation. Only 2.2 mi. (3.5 km.) long, the elevation gain is 311 ft. (95 m.)

We’ll descend to begin the climb to our fourth pass. We’ll climb 5.8 mi. (9.3 km.) towards our fourth pass – at 7,008 ft. (2,136 m.) elevation. The climb averages a 6.4% grade, with 17 hairpin turns. 

The foliage and road surface changes somewhat as we climb towards our fifth and final pass – at 7,349 ft. (2,240 m.) elevation. The vertical climb is 1,224 ft. (373 m.) over 3.4 mi. (5.5 km.), and there are 0 hairpins. This climb has featured in the Giro d’Italia 16 times. The climb is well worth the effort, because when you reach the top, you’ll have the majestic Sassolungo in the background.

We’ll descend back to the hotel to prepare for Shabbos and some well deserved rest.

Shabbos July 01

Sunday July 02

We’re going to head to the Stelvio today for the storied ride. The drive is 2 and a half hours, so we’ll leave right after breakfast. The Passo dello Stelvio is the highest pass in Italy at 8,458 ft. (2,758 m.) of elevation.

Many consider it to be the nicest of all the Alpine passes in terms of scenery, with breathtaking views. Its 48 bends carve their way up the mountain in what appears to be an endless road towards heaven, constantly switching back and forth the higher you climb. Although the average gradient for the 15.2 mi. (24.4 km.) climb is around 8%, the max. gradient reaches 14%; this is a HC climb.  Once we reach the top, we will head to Passo Umbrail and then into Switzerland, before circling around to our starting point.

Beware: the weather at the summit is much colder than at the foot of the climb. Bring some layers so our soigneur can keep you warm as you climb. Also, we’ve been told that only disc brake bikes are being allowed on the Stelvio. While we don’t know if this is being enforced, we wanted you to know what’s being said.

Monday July 03

We’ll start today’s ride with the slight downhill ride on one of the world’s most beautiful roads. This road through the Dolomites boasts breathtaking alpine vistas. The green valley is dotted with yellow, pink, purple and white wildflowers. Charming wooden houses straight out of fairy tales peek out from behind trees. Towering over us are awe-inspiring mountains of sheer rock. Each twist of the road brings an even more spectacular panorama into view.

We’ll turn to head up towards our first pass – at 6,293 ft. (1,918 m.) elevation. With a brook on our right for much of the way, the sound of rushing water is blissful. The climb is 7.1 mi. (11.41 km.) long, a vertical climb of 2,552 ft. (778 m.), and has featured in the Giro d’Italia 3 times in the last 11 years.

After some fairly flat riding, we’ll begin our ascent to our second pass, 8.7 mi. (14 km.) to the top.  This climb is among the most challenging climbs that you can ride in the Dolomites, and is the one that Jai Hindley won the Giro d’Italia on this past year.

The ascent can be divided into two parts. The first part is fairly gentle, and goes through villages.  We’ll cycle through a nature reserve that was created first by the erosion of the glaciers and then by the erosion of the Pettorina Torrent. The landscape is marvelous and we’ll see the Franzei waterfall along the way.

And then the second part begins. It starts with a 1.7 mi. (2.7 km.) long straight climb,  starting with a 10% gradient and most of it 13-14% grade! At the top of that straightaway, we will immediately begin 1.9 mi. (3 km.) of 13-16% hairpin turns up to the top 6,739 ft. (2,054 m.) elevation and another stunning lake. The vertical climb is 3,484 ft. (1,062 m.) and has featured 17 times in the Giro d’Italia.  After passing the lake, you will enjoy the beautiful descent back to the hotel.

Tuesday, July 04

It’s time to say goodbye until next time. But before that, a quick 15 mi. (24.1 km.) 2,142 ft. (653 m.) out and back for those who want!  We need to check out of the hotel at 11:00. For those who have rental bikes, we’ll stop by to return them. While in Canazei, we’ll have a bit of time for some last minute souvenir shopping. We then head to the airport to catch returning flights. We look forward to cycling together again soon.
Addio!
Ciao!