Few photos from last weekend's trip to Dolomites and Stelvio Road to Passo Gardena Corvara ski resort Road to Jaufen pass Road to Passo Rombo Up to Stelvio Stelvio is not that busy these days, mainly locals and German tourists Bratwurst business is struggling. 1 shop got closed because owner died from Corona Lovely day Unfortunately no Ducatis here
I found the Stelvio quite disappointing. When you finally got to the top (avoiding scores of cyclists) it was a tourist trap.
It's a nice tick box Stelvio, but it's not that great a road IMO.... is the tibetan cafe (I think that's what it's called) still at the top? I remember being stood there on the way to WDW2010, it was about 5-6C still snow covered on the hills in June, and at the end of the day we checked into the hotel opposite the Ferrari factory in Maranello where it was 38C, needless to say we were sweating buckets when we finally got off the bikes.
I've been at Stelvio probably 20 times by now. For me its a place that I have to cross to get home. I usually stop there to have a Bratwurst and say hello to the old man who is making them - Richard.
Love the Dolomites, pleased the roads were quiet for you. Was a bit disappointed with the amount of traffic last year around St Bernard passes and Alps. Way busier than a few years back. Enjoyed my first Stelvio visit, and defo a 'tick list' pass, though far from one of the best. If anyone fancies a little bit of a change there is the Umbrail pass just off the Stelvio...if heading in to Switzerland. Not sure if it is all fully surfaced now? In 2008 it was part gravel and dirt.
Cracking pictures, thanks for sharing. The Dolomites is still my favourite place to visit, out of all our Euro trips. Can’t wait to go back again one day.
Alps are big, so depends on your time. If you have lots of it, just take every pass possible. If not, I tend to focus on countries that I like riding in. That immediately excludes Switzerland for reasons we all know. So I tend to ride mainly in Italy and a bit in Austria. Italy is split in 2 parts when it comes to the mountains: Alps and Dolomites. I know it sounds silly, but thats just how it is. The valley where you find Merano and Bolzano sort of separates conventional Alps from Dolomites. So from West (alps) to East (dolomites): Passo Tonale Passo del Gavia Passo dello Stelvio Passo della Mendola Passo del Rombo Jaufen pass Entering Dolomites: Sella Pass Passo Gardena and my favorite circle: Passo Pordoi Passo di Falzarego Passo Fedaia Passo di Giau With famous trio towns in between: Canazei, Corvara and Cortina
