Greetings from Nova Lavente

The Hotel in Zernez was strictly functional, although when we got in at about 19:00 the beers were extremely welcome.A good night's sleep after our first day of cycling in the Alps.

The following day was glorious as we headed off into the Schweizer National Park, and onto the Ofenpass a 'stiff' climb up to 2150 meters. During a coffee break at the top, the madness descended. We had not mentioned the dreaded 'Stelvio' word but then Chris looked up with a slightly crazed expression said 'why not?' Jeremy and Graham being deeply sensible people declined Chris' kind offer, I on the other hand recoginising that the guy clearly shouldn't be allowed out on his own consented to join him.

Our route took us over the Pass dal Fuorn before we parted company at Santa Maria Val Mustair, Chris and I heading south towards Stelvio. We were immediately into a steep climb on a narrow road with acute hairpins. After about 45 minutes and really feeling the thigh muscles, we came across a cafe and after a short break we continued on up, past the tree line, up into the snow, through the Passo dell Umbrail. As we passed 2500 meters it really did start to hurt, short of breath we pushed onto the top. at 2757 meters, Stelvio is the 2nd highest paved pass in the Alps and it felt like it!

There were very few cyclists up there all with the same glint of utter lunacy in their eyes. The place was packed with motorbikers who looked at us all dressed in our finest licra like we were from a different planet. Then came the long 'Top Gear' descent fantastic, all the way down a tarmac ribbon drapped down the side of the mountain.

Onto Merano, along A roads with trucks roaring past until Chris saw something that looked a lot like a cycle track down to our right by the river. We picked our way through a vinyard and found the track. These fantastic, fast smooth tracks took us all the way to Merano and onto Bolzano at about 20 mph.

So whilst we got through some miles, we didn't get to the last part of the day a 20 mile 1400 meter climb up to Nova Lavente until 20:00ish. This was a tough ride the first part of which was through a long uphill tunnel out of Bolzano. An hour and a half later, in the pitch dark and with about a mile to go, my legs just stopped going round! Shoes off and walk through the slightly spooky Tyrolian forest.

We got to the Rosengarten hotel after 22:00. Graham and Jeremy had been there for a couple of hours and had food and beers waiting, what a day, still the view from the the top of Stelvio will I think stay with me for the rest of my days.

Today's Stats

Total ride so far 843 miles
Total ride today 128 miles
Average speed today 10 mph
Total climb today > 14,000 feet!