Bike Touring Italy | Classic Climbs

BIKE TOURING PASSO PORDOI | ITALIAN DOLOMITES Passo Pordoi is and has often been part of several important bike races, like the Giro d’Italia.  At the pass there is the Fausto Coppi monument, showing the importance of the area to Italian Cycling. In the summer Passo Pordoi is a starting point for high-level walks, via ferrate, and easy excursions for the whole family, such as the "Viel dal Pan", an ancient path that was used by merchants to reach Veneto or Trentino. To get the summit, starting from Canazei, the Passo Pordoi ascent is 13 km long. Over this distance, you climb 786 meters. The average percentage is thus 6 %. And starting from Arabba, the Passo Pordoi ascent is 9.4 km long. Over this distance, you climb 637 meters. The other passes in the area that Passo Pordoi can be linked to for a great ride are Passo Sella, Passo Gardena, Passo Campolongo, Passo Valparola, Passo Fedaia. BIKE TOURING ROUTES UP TO PASSO PORDOI Bike Touring Passo Pordoi from Arabba Climb  

Bike Touring Italy | Classic Bike Climbs

Salite Classica nelle Dolomiti

The Dolomites of Italy offers some of the best cycle touring in Europe with a large variety of climbs and valley routes to select from.  The scenery you will discover during your rides is spectacular and unique to the Dolomites.  There are many great rides and options to consider when you plan your trip, below are few tips to get you started. 2021 holds hope that the Dolomites and the rest of Italy will open up to travel and there will be chances to explore some the classic cycle routes.  With travel being closed for a year there are some establishments that could still be closed or not reopen so we are reviewing our travel guide and riding anew many of classic climbs to update our trip planning notebook.  We hope this guide will help you plan your next adventure and if you have rides you would like us to review send us a DM at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Planning a Bike Tour in the Dolomites

If your destination this travel season is to bike tour tour here are a few tips to consider as you plan.   TIME: How many days do you have to ride.  Once in a lifetime trip: If you only have one trip to Italy you might consider reviewing our top rides in Italy list and see which ones you wish to ride.  Many people combine the Dolomites with the Alps. More than one trip.  If you have the time, money, and what to ride Italy multiple times you should one full two week period just to explore the Dolomites.  Check out some our route suggestions. BUDGET: Self guided can save you quite a lot but you will need to ride with extra get, weather can change quick so carrying a full kit is the smart thing.  Guided: I suggest route support but I am not a big fan of group trips with people who do not know each other.  The main reason is that someone is always waiting for others and there is a tendency for weaker riders to feel pressured to utilize a SAG wagon.  However, having motor support on the route is great for extra gear and mechanical assistance.  Most of Italiaoutdoors trips we organize the route so there is really no need for a SAG wagon and utilized a motorcycle or Vespa as route support allowing us to move up and down the climb quickly and safely. WHEN: The best time to ride the Dolomites to enjoy less traffic is June and late September, July and August has become very busy with car and motorcycle touring.  The more popular routes can be very crowded and the passes overcrowded.  The earliest you can ride is May but there is a greater chance of poor weather plus not everything is open.   For help planning your tour check out our travel page.  Italiaoutdoors Travel Planning and Guide Services

The Classic Bike Climbs in the Dolomites

BIKE TOURING LOCATIONS IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES BIKE TOURING PASSO PORDOI BIKE TOURING PASSO SELLA BIKE TOURING PASSO GARDENA BIKE TOURING PASSO CAMPOLONGO BIKE TOURING PASSO DURAN BIKE TOURING PASSO STAULANZA BIKE TOURING PASSO GIAU BIKE TOURING PASSO FALZAREGO BIKE TOURING PASSO FEDAIA BIKE TOURING PASSO SAN PELLEGRINO BIKE TOURING PASSO CEREDA BIKE TOURING PASSO BROCON BIKE TOURING PASSO COSTALUNGA (KARERPASS)   BIKE TOURING PASSO CROCE D'AUNE BIKE TOURING PASSO MANGHEN

Need Help Planning Your Italy Vacation

Italy is one of the most diverse places in the world to visit but there is more to the country then Venice, Florence, Roma, Cinque Terre and a couple of other top attractions.  If you plan you days well and understand how to move around within the country you can a great cost effective vacation full of activity, history, culture, and great food and wine.  Contact us to get the insights to travel in Italy.  We offer: Travel Consultant- book time online for a web chat to answer your questions about traveling in Italy. Travel Planning - need help outlining and planning your adventure in Italy. Scheduled Tours - each month we lead a scheduled tour for those looking to join a small group to explore. Travel support:  Bike Touring - routes, bike rental, bag transfers.  Walking/Hiking Tours - routes, bag transfers. Booking assistance and suggested contacts.

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Bike Touring Italy | Classic Climbs

BIKE TOURING CROCE D'AUNE | ITALIAN DOLOMITES The Croce d’Aune is a mountain pass, at an elevation of 1.015m above the sea level, located in the Feltre Mountain Group of the Dolomites, in the province of Belluno (Italy). Passo Croce d'Aune is a small pass just north of Feltre, located in Belluno Province, Veneto Region. This mountain pass was once the main route of communication between Feltre and the Cismon Valley. Now a tunnel and road has been constructed, resulting in this special spot being forgotten. There are lots of hiking paths starting from the passo Croce d'Aune, and this happens to be the start point of the Belluno Dolomiti National Park.

 Passo Croce d'Aune is the site, where Tullio Campagnolo (from Vicenza) had the inspiration to develop the skewer (quick release) for the bike wheel. He was racing across the pass in the 1920's and due to bad weather and cold Campagnolo had trouble taking off this back wheel to change a flat. On November 11th, 1927, with snow covering the roads of the Croce D'Aune Campagnolo needed to remove his rear wheel to change gears. Because the large wingnuts that held his wheel on had frozen, and his hands were too cold to budge them, he was unable to remove his wheel to change gears, and lost his chance at victory that day.

 As he struggled to free his wheel, he muttered five words to himself that changed the history of cycling: 
"Bisogno cambiá qualcossa de drio!"  ("Something must change in the rear!") and that simple event -- a wheel that couldn't be removed -- started Campagnolo thinking. He went back to his workshop, and emerged with the invention of the quick-release lever (in 1930) and, soon after, an early bicycle derailleur (1933). Bike Tour Passo Croce D'Aune from Ponte d'Oltra Length: Average Grade: Max Grade: Bike Tour Passo Croce d'Aune from Feltre

Bike Touring Italy | Classic Bike Climbs

BIKE TOURING PASSO GIAU | ITALIAN DOLOMITES Passo Giau is located in the Belluno Province, of Veneto Region. Passo Giau separates the peaks of the Croda da Lago and Averau mountains, which are part of the Pelmo Dolomite Group.  The pass sits above the Cortina to the north and the Agordo valley to the south west. Passo Giau is one of the best bike rides in the Italian Dolomites.  The route is challenging so you need good legs or great gearing, with some sections reaching 15% it is considered one of 'THE' rides to do within cycling.  The pass is included in the 2012 Giro d'Italia and a must do ride, plus the views at the top are not to be missed.The best places to base yourself is either Cortina or Alleghe.  I like Alleghe since it gives you more flexibility to more rides during your stay.  Cortina is good for riding Tre Cime di Laverado and the classic Passo Giau loop but then you would need to re-ride the same routes to get to other classic climbs.  Alleghe on the other hand is in the perfect position to ride the Giau, Duran Staulanza, 4 passes Padoi, Sella, Gardena, and Campolungo, plus Passo Fadia, and S. Pelligrino.  For me the best route to ride the pass is from the southwest side that starts at Colle Lucia or Selva di Christina.  This route is the same utilized in the Giro d'Italia and considered the harder and classic way.  Coming from Pocòl on the Cortina side is a nice ride but you do not have the same openness and dynamic scenery to enjoy. BIKE TOURING ROUTES TO REACH PASSO GIAU: Bike Touring Passo Gaiu Riding the Climbing Pocol (and Cortina): Belluno Province Length: 8.6 km Average grade: 8.3% Difficulty: 113.77 Bike Tour Passo Giau Riding the Climb from Caprile Belluno Province Length: 10.12 km Average grade: 9.1% Difficulty: 142.8