The Dolomites Unplugged, week 31, 2009

Program: If you like climbing (with your bike), if you like to be challenged, and if your are looking for some tough riding in the most beautiful mountains of Europe... you have come to the right place!

First and foremost, this year's program for week 31 contains two great successes from last year's program, two of Italy's most legendary passes: Passo dello Stelvio and Passo di Gavia in the Ortles-group, Europe's second and sixth highest passes! We will never stop offering these two passes because they give the best cycling experience every time! The deserted moon landscapes above the treeline; the enormous snow-covered mountains (almost 4.000 meters); the troubling gradients and not least the thin air makes you dizzy of satisfaction!

This year's program also offers the Central Dolomites, and it is a special pleasure to offer Passo delle Erbe again, which gave us all a unforgettable experience in 2007! Tiny, remote roads in between undulating, lush green pastures, ramshackle barns, the characteristic scent of herbes and the first class views to the most spectacular shark teeth rock-formations in the Puez-Odle national park!

Turning north, we'll take on the first two thirds of the legendary Giro d'Italia ascent, Plan de Corones and move on towards one of the top attractions of the entire Dolomite range, Lago Misurina (the most photographed mountain lake in Italy for sure!). From the lake, we'll offer you the chance to test yourself against one of the steepest ascents in the Dolomites (optional), Tre Cime Lavaredo (2.346 m), whose three gigantic rock fingers are often used as a symbol of the mountain range as a whole. Six kilometers of insanity! The day will be concluded with the classics, Passo Tre Croci and Passo Falzarego, which in comparison offer rather pleasant gradients and give you time to enjoy the remarkable scenery!

To finish off this week of climbing, we'll attempt one of the most notorious ascents of the Dolomites, Passo di Fedaia from Caprile (east) where a long, steep stretch takes the best out of even the strongest riders! Firstly, we'll follow a gorge with impressive rock walls whose terrific drama fully justifies the later effort! The last six kilometers climb with an average gradient of around 10% with stretches of 17% and the long straight piece of 12%. Truly nasty!

After reaching the pass, we'll follow the inside of the lake, Lago Fedaia, immediately under the highest mountain in the Dolomites, La Marmolade (3.343 meters). With whatever we have left, we'll do Passo di Sella, another Dolomite-jewel, where threatening rock face rises straight up from the road to your right while the greatest view to Sasso Lungo unfolds to your left! Breathtaking!

Program for week 31:

Day 1: Departure Friday July 24th 2009. Arrival in Milano Saturday July 25th 2009. Airport pickup. Transport to our hotel in Val di Non (three stars with wellnesscenter, located with an awesome view over the valley and the mountains!)

Day 2: Ronzone (1.100) - Passo della Mendola (1.368 m) - Bolzano - San Genesio - Vales (1.354 m) - Meltina (1.140 m) - Merano - Castel Bello. 104 km, 2.200 hm.

Day 3: Castel Bello - Prato - Passo dello Stelvio (2.758 m) - Bormio. 81 km, 2.700 hm.

Day 4: Bormio (1.207 m) - Passo di Gavia (2.652 m) - Passo del Tonale (1.883 m) - Val di Sole - Ronzone. 126 km, 3.200 hm.

Day 5: Free day. Different activities will be offered: Morning bike ride with a dip in Lago di Tovel. Excursion to Verona with opera in Arena of Verona and wine tasting. Excursion to Bolzano. White-water-river-rafting in Val di Sole. Sanctuary San Romedio. Or relax!

Day 6: Ronzone (1.100 m) - Passo delle Mendola (1.368 m) - Bolzano - Chiusa - Passo delle Erbe (2.005 m) - Val Badia 121 km, 3.100 hm.

Day 7: Val Badia - Plan de Corones (until 1.735 m) - Dobbiaco - Val di Landro - Lago di Misurina - Tre Cime Lavaredo (2.346 m) (optional) - Passo di Tre Croci (1.809 m) - Cortina di Ampezzo - Passo di Falzarego (2.105 m) - Caprile. 100 km (110 km), 2.264 hm (2.900 hm).

Day 8: Caprile - Passo Fedaia (2.057 m) - Canazei - Passo di Sella (2.244 m) - Val Gardena - Bolzano - Passo della Mendola (1.368 m) (optional). 124 km, 3.400 hm.

Day 9: Airport transfer. Departure Sunday August 2nd, 2009

In all: 656 km and 16.450 hm (17.100 hm).

Price: The Dolomites Unplugged, week 31........ € 950 ($ 1.195)

Including: Airport transfer, 8 nights (double rooms) in hotel (3 stars) with half board (excl. beverages) luggage transport and follow car. The hotel in Ronzone has wellness-area with fitness, jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath and indoor swimming pool.

Not included: Airfare, lunch, beverages, eventual activities, spare parts and reparations.

Contact Bike Italien: joachim.jerichow@bikeitalien.com Phone: 0039-0457580515 or mobile: 0039-3496576683