016 Sellaronda

Course: Selva Gardena(1.563 m) - Passo Gardena (2.121 m) - Colfosco (1.645 m) - Corvara (1.568 m) – Passo Campolongo (1.875 m) - Arabba (1.602 m) - Passo Pordoi (2.239 m) - Bivio Sella (1802 m) – Passo Sella (2.240 m) - Selva Gardena (1.563 m)

Highlight: The best known and most coveted tour of the Alps. In winter on skis, in summer on road bikes! And there is a valid reason: it constantly develops on an altitude between 1500m and 2240m and always offers a wonderful view of the Dolomite walls of the Sella, Sassolungo massif or the Marmolada glaciers and glimpses into the valley on the famous villages of Corvara, Arabba or Canazei. You pass four of the most famous Dolomite passes with not too steep climbs, majestic curves and with no more than 700 m in altitude per step. A must for any road biker! With the car we drive to Bolzano and take the highway to Chiusa. We go towards Val Gardena to Selva. From there we start with the bike. The individual steps: Gardena Pass 2121m After a few hairpin bends you reach a plateau and `from` here the route folows along the imposing north walls of the Sella massif, up to `where` a few other hairpin bends. With a gradient of approx. 8%. they lead to Passo Gardena. The descent to Corvara through soft meadows is sensational: many hairpin bends, to the right the imposing walls of the Dolomites and, downstream, Corvara. Campolongo Pass 1875m Along the ascent `from` Corvara to the Campolongo Pass you will pass over 11 hairpin bends with a gradient of 10% approx. and with a splendid view towards the valley on Corvara and on the grandiose walls of the Sassongher which stands 2,665 meters high in the background. The upper part of the climb takes place along green meadows and without too many bends and in a short time you reach the Pass. The descent to Arabba again offers a fantastic view of the Sasso Mezzodi, Arabba and the Pordoi Pass, the next challenge. Pordoi pass 2239m 33 beautiful hairpin bends lead `from` Arabba to the Pordoi Pass and onto a new plateau. The climb has an 8% gradient and is not too tiring. The splendid view of Arabba towards the valley and towards the Passo, with its majestic cableway on Sass Pordoi, make the climb very interesting. Descend towards Canazei, until the crossroads for Passo Sella. Here you will find a monument to the bicycle hero, Fausto Coppi. Passo Sella 2237m At Pian Schiavaneis, at the crossroads at 1850 meters above sea level, the climb to the Passo Sella begins. With a slight slope you cycle towards the bizarre towers of the Sella. Shortly afterwards, however, the most demanding ascent of the tour begins: with a gradient of 13%, the road climbs under the walls of the Sella until it reaches the Pass, `where` a breathtaking view makes you forget every effort; `from` the Sassolungo `group` to Canazei and up to the expanse of ice in the Marmolada. The day's efforts are over. Now only a long descent remains until Selva Gardena, the final point of our tour.