PASSO DURAN TO DONT DESCENT | Bike touring DOLOMITES
When you ride the classic route up to Passo Duran from Agordo you are then confronted with one of the hardest descents in the Italian Dolomites. The ride down from Zoldo Alto to the town of Dont, (where you can turn left and ride Passo Staulanza), is short but very technical. Through out the ride you need to be fully alert, because this is not a descent you can relax and refuel on, the road is uneven, narrows as it passes through a couple of villages, and difficult to read. Combine all this with the grade of the incline you have to be attentive of your speed and the lines you pick, as you tackle what seems to one giant curve down the Civetta Mountain Group.
PASSO DURAN TO DONT TECHNICAL NOTES
REGION | Veneto Region |
PROVINCE | Belluno Province |
MOUNTAIN GROUP | Civetta Mountain Group |
MOUNTAIN PASS | Passo Duran |
ARRIVAL POINT | Dont |
LENGTH | 8.4 km |
ELEVATION LOST | 671 meters |
NUMBER OF SWITCHBACKS | 6 |
NUMBER OF CURVES | 43 |
AVERAGE GRADE | 8.2% |
MAXIMUN GRADE | 13 % |
ROUTE NOTES
As you leave Passo Duran you will have a few easy curves and quickly pick up speed, after 1 km you will start to find the road uneven and lots of shifting curves. The road is narrow and the shoulders drop off so you want to maintain your line in the middle of your lane. There are several blind curves so you will want to control your speed.
You will find the first switchback and the turning radius is good so you can pick a fast line, but traffic can approach quickly so you attentive to your exit.
After the second switchback you are entering the fastest part of the descent. The grade is steeper here and the road narrows. Just before small village you Chiesa is your maximun velocity point, when you see the precentage of grade sign, it is a good note to be extra careful because you are about to pass through a few villages.
After the village of Chiese is the village of Gavaz. This can be an obsticle course sometimes because of cars parked on the side of the road and on coming traffic will cut the curve. You will want to control your speed and be attentive as you pass through these points.
After Gavaz the road opens back up and you are in the last strecth before reaching Dont. You can run easy for a few moments but the last few switchbacks are coming up quick.
After your last set of switchbacks you will enter into the village of Dont. Caution! during this part. You are at the end of the descent and from here you can turn right and down to Zoldo or turn left and start the Passo Staulanze climb.
This is one of the more technical descents and one of my favorite. You need to be in control but once you have done the ride a few times you can really appreciate the body and bike control you need. This is the type of ride that will make you a better cyclist. Always use caution and be safe on the road!!