DAY 6 (Threatening Thursday)

Cortina – Passo Tre Croci – Misurina – Tre Cime Di Lavaredo – Cortina 

(30 miles with 1830 meters ascent)

I had been very much looking forward to this day…I had recorded the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo stage of the 2007 Giro D’Italia and had watched it a good few times…very seldom do you observe such suffering in the top pro ranks!...Ricco,Piepoli and Simoni etc could hardly turn a pedal by the time they reached the top…and it was hilarious to watch the non-climbers coming in…they were actually weaving side to side!...like I say this is an extreme rarity…only on the terrifying L'Angliru or the Monte Zoncolan have I observed similar carnage?...could the Tri Cime Di Lavaredo be so bad?...the last 4 Km’s averaged 12.5%...it was very steep but it was relatively short…right?

The night before we had been having a beer when Konrad made a threatening statement…”I’d go as far to say that the Tri Cime Di Lavaredo is the hardest climb I’ve ever did in my life”…Mmmm…that was unsettling…Konrad lives in the English Lake District (home of horrors) and had did a sh*t lot of major continental ascents in his life so I took his sentiments seriously!

Ding,Ding,Ding…these bloody church bells really did my head in…However here I was again in my familiar morning position…lying in bed looking at the curtains...listening intently for ‘rain sounds’ or car ‘wet  sounds’…nothing!…I slowly got out my bed and held my breath as I opened the curtains…I gazed out and felt all my endorphins flowing…Blue skies…yippee!...I was over the moon as I had really wanted a good dry day for this occasion…

This was our final day and as we all wanted back at a reasonable time to get the bikes broken down and all the packing done we had agreed we would throw the bikes in the Bus and drive to Cortina where we would directly tackle the climbs...then it would be a simple case of driving back…

As Glenn had missed out yesterday he had decided that today was going to be a more serious effort…so he opted to cycle from the Hotel and head over the Passo Falzarego and he would team up with us in Cortina…Jon ‘the Pedelator’ had also opted for something different …he fancied a run today rather than a cycle…so he explained he had found a small path which led away up the side of some mountain somewhere?…he was  going to run up that then maybe have a wee trundle on his bike afterwards…so he quickly fitted up his running legs and transformed himself into ‘The Jogalator’….

A good breakfast consumed (as always) and me and Stu got the Bus ready for bike transport…we quickly removed a few of the seats and managed to get the Tandem in whole!...the rest of the bikes were fitted up aswell and we were ready for the off…We had given Glenn around 20 mins headstart when we took off…where would we catch him?

We drove down to Andraz and to the foot of the Falzarego…no sign of our Glennboy!...so away we went up the Pass…expecting to see Glenn as we rounded every hidden bend…nowt!...to cut a story we managed to catch him up at the Galleria…now that’s only 2 Km’s from the top!...Glenn was absolutely horsing up it…and the lads managed to get some great photo’s of his efforts:-

                      Glenn hammering up the Passo Falzarego

As he summited out he explained he had ridden up it in 37 mins…that was 11 mins quicker than me and Stu’s ascent on Black Monday!!! (and we were on good form that day)…so Glenn looked well satisfied with his achievement and got his jacket on and prepared for a cold descent…we basically followed Glenn down the mountain until we reached a stunning viewpoint…we simply had to stop and capture this beauty…the morning clouds and mists were rising from the huge peaks opposite and it was jawdropping…

After we picked our Jaws back up from the ground we resumed our downhill trek until Stu saw a suitable Parking slot just a Km or 2 up from Cortina…this would do just nicely.

Parked up and ready to rock the 5 of us plummeted into Cortina where we made our way through the confusing one way system and onto the foot of the Passo Tre Croci…

                                                                      Stu, Konrad and Allan in Cortina

Allan and Konrad had already started the climb...whilst Glenn and Stu awaited on me (I had a major call of nature in Cortina)...feeling much better I rejoined the lads and headed on up the Pass...

The climb starts with steepish ramps right up through the town…big long straights etc…it then emerges from the town and goes into a steep ~12% sweeping bendy section…already I was feeling it…this was fairly serious!...anyhow I managed to get into a good cadence and was marching up alongside Stu…we had overtaken the tandem Duo a few Km’s up and it must be said I started to really enjoy it all…my form was good and the gradient (although very steep at parts) offered little obstruction…Glenn was like a Yoyo here…he would race upto to take pics of us then fall back to take pics of Allan and Konrad…

                        The Tandem Lads on the Passo Tre Croci

                                                                     Glenn doing one of his Yo-Yo runs

What a real decent fella and what a bloody ability!...the climb is basically all through dense forest and there's some wicked steep sections…

                Stuboy nearing the top of the Passo Tre Croci

Especially a huge long steep straight around ¾’s of the way up…but after an enjoyable experience Me and Stu topped out and Glenn made his way up soon after…The Tandem then came into view...

                                                    Allan and Konrad reaching the top of the Passo Tre Croci

And the first thing Allan said was “that felt a lot worse and steeper than the last time we did it”…yeah and I agree…it WAS a tough steep climb…you better believe it!

A few nice photo shots were observed here before heading off to Misurina…

                    Me and Glenn having a well deserved rest

On the small descent off the Passo Tre Croci a very  brief rain shower erupted…it was bloody freezing…I lived in hope that it was a one off as the Tri Cime Di Lavaredo Refuge sits at over 2300 meters…the highest point of the entire trip!... and bad weather here at 1800 meters would mean diabolical up there!  However the rain dwindled and the good clear conditions resumed…nice one!

After the small descent the road flattened off and we made our way over small bridges and the likes…a Km or so down the road we came to a Junction…we went off left for Misurina…immediately onto a small climb…it wasn’t very steep but it did hurt due to the legs being in ‘cold descend mode’…topping out here offered the first views of the big lake (Lago di Misurina)…and at the very head lay a huge grand hotel under major renovation…we made our way along this flat section and stopped at the little touristy shop outlets…and after a suitable top up of water, an energy boost and a nervous pee we were all ready to tackle this almighty beast!...or at least I hoped we were?

                              The Stunning Lago Di Misurina!

We made our way along the last stretches off the lake before getting diverted off to the left…up this small incline where we saw the signs…the ‘Refuge’…

                                   Serious trouble is brewing!

We took a right here and made our way towards a hotel (which had the same name as the hotel we stayed in last year in Bormio)…and off to the side of it I saw the road…Oh Yes…here we go!...

                                                                                                 The start of severity

                                 And does it not kick some? 

Here lay the intro to the Infamous Tri Cime Di Lavaredo…this extremely steep section through the dense forest is known as the ‘Col Sant Angelo’ which would take us upto Lake Antorno…I could remember this on my Giro 2007 DVD and it looked a sod even on the televison…the road kicked up…and then it REALLY kicked up…easily parts approaching 20% I’d say…

                                                         Stu negotiating the unrelenting steep hairpins

But the thing that surprised me most was how long this section lasted?…I had envisioned a short nasty piece of road but instead I experienced a very steep stretch which I reckoned to be the best part of a full Kilometer?…the road weaved and hairpined it’s way skywards and a proper all out effort was endured…there wasn’t a single centimetre of reprieve on that entire section…would the actual Tri Cime Di Lavaredo be similar to this?...I was soon gonna find out!

After a tiring leg sapping effort we levelled off and started a slight descent…

           Releif! - A nice welcoming flat section - it will not last!

I was ’scoping’ every nook and cranny of the surrounding cliffs and mountains…I knew the climb ‘proper’ wasn’t far off…and that’s when I focused on a particular mountain side…I squinted my eyes and thought “Is that a road carved out the side?”…I’m sure it was…and if it was then we were in serious trouble as it looked stupidly steep!  I pointed it out to Stu and he replied “Mmmm…I think your right big fella…it looks really bad!”…me and Stu just forged on here…passing a small ‘toll booth’ (the road is private and a fee is required to drive up)…

                                                     Cars have to pay to ruin there clutches and brakes

We made our way around an enormous sweeping bend before the road drifted up a small incline…up ahead we could see the road enter the forest and kick up violently as it did so…as I approached I said “Ready for this mate?”…Stu replied ”Yeah, I think so”…and as we hit the very foot of the climb I just plumped the bike into my lowest gear…the 30x27…here we go…

The road kicked upto around 16%...and I just took it nice and steady…up it ventured in this unrelenting manner…a few small hairpins were experienced but these offered little respite due to steepness and camber…

                            An immediate kick up

The climb relaxed a tad after around a half Km and Stuboy shouted down “Alright Rich?”…I replied ”Yeah mate, feeling good!”…this small relax in gradient gave a false sense of security…I was thinking "no problem"….thats until I turned the corner…A very long straight section revealed itself…and it was very,very steep…felt like 15-16%?....I could feel the gradient take hold and the inevitable strain of the legs…

                                                                          And it's getting worse

I slowly made my way up this very sore stretch and nearing the top I gradually turned the corner…Jeez, my heart near missed a beat…another huge long steep straight appeared…

          This enormous long drag could bring a tear to the eye

Even steeper than before!…I was now in ‘very respectful’ mode…I just made the very most of my energy reserves and slowed up a tad…and it’s just aswell for what was to come!

For the next 500 meters or so I carefully and painfully made slow progress…and from here I was offered a glimpse of the road ahead “Oh Dear Lord!”…it went over a small bridge thing and then continued straight on up in a truly horrendous and cruel manner…this was far steeper than all the ramps previous…I could visually see where the road kicked up!...and considering the gradient I was already experiencing it never instilled any confidence!

                                                                         And it's getting even steeper!

It was around here I could hear the familiar sound of bike parts coming up from behind…it must be Glenn!...I heard his breathing before seeing him…as he passed he said “This one’s a brute”…and in between huge gasps I managed “Yeah your not kidding”…as Glenn was riding away I looked at his riding style…something was wrong?...Glenn’s usually very graceful on the bike and here he was looking like someone had welded the bike to the tarmac…the strain on his whole body as he pressed on the pedals was plainly evident…I looked down at his gearing and he was still in his 42 ring?...I shouted “Get that in the granny you mad man!”…he heard me alright but he pressed on upwards towards Stu…I just shook my head…this climb was far too steep for a 42 ring and I knew there was still a long way to go…however I had to get on with the priority – Me!...

            Glenn! Get out the bloody 42 Ring you mad man!               

As I crossed over this small bridge thing I experienced this new ‘altogether steeper’ section…and I was already thinking “how can this only average 12.5%?”…it was absolutely brutal!…this was English Lake District territory…I slowed up even more so...I was having serious doubts I could sustain this type of effort!…up ahead, I could now see more of the climb…and at the top of this soul destroying ramp the road meandered into a hairpin section…I saw a car coming down and it was insane…looked akin to bloody Hardknott Pass with the angle the car was perched at?....

I just kept going…mostly sitting down twiddling my small gear…as when I got out the saddle my arms quickly became so sore with the sheer effort …I was now approaching the first of the hairpins…off to the right it swung me…Jeez, what kind of gradient is this?...it was terrible…

                                                                      Digustingly steep Hairpins

I could see Stu on the hairpin directly above me and he shouted down “Absolute killer!”…”Agreed!”…again, I was so respectful…I just took this section very conservatively…but it was good to reach the next hairpin as it flung me back Left and I was offered the shallowest part of the road…this brief reprieve allowed such a relief and I do believe that was a turning point in my ascent…

     A tiny rest on the outside of the hairpin makes all the difference

The gradient was still bonkers but somehow I was pushing the gear better and quicker?….I made my way around the remainder of these savage hairpins...

                                                                     But the gradient is so unrelenting

And as I reached a kind of Plateau I was offered my first sight of the famous Refugio Auronzo…

                           The first sight of the Refuge

It still looked an awful long way off but I reckon seeing that gave me a major morale boosting…I looked at the road leading to it and it was gut wrenching…it remained remarkably steep!...the road had never haulted the entire way up…if anything it had just got worse!...I just spun my little 30x27 and slowly made my way ever closer to my sanctuary…the last long ramp which took us upto the Refuge was a cruel one…just straight on up with no place for respite anywhere…I had gained on Stuboy here and I could hear Glenn shouting from the Refuge…I just followed Stu as he turned off the long straight and headed right up a 20% incline?...this turned out to be wrong way to the Refuge (the refuge parking is a one way affair) and we had came up the ‘exit only’…who the hell cares?...we made our way over the rough gravelly carpark to where Glenn was then dismounted the bikes and carefully layed them next to a railing.

Gazing down at that wonderful panoroma was a very satisfying experience…

                                                                       Looking back down to Misurina 

Stu said “That was absolutely brutal…that was Hardknott material…it’s the only climb I’ve ever did out here where I had real doubts” …Glenn added “Yeah that’s a real killer, I hope Allan and Konrad are ok”…but Stu quickly said “Those 2 will be ok, you better believe it!”…I could go on and explain what was being said but I think I’d be better summing up the climb in my own words:-

I’ve only did 2 other climbs abroad which I would say tested me more…both of these are situated in Gran Canaria…and both horrors with 25% gradients etc..

The Tri Cime Di Lavaredo has now a special place in my memory…it is the toughest ordeal I’ve had in Mainland Europe…it was tougher than the Mortirolo…although looking at the stats you would be forgiven for saying ‘that’s not right’...the Mortirolo is 12kms at 10.5% average…whereas the Tri Cime Di Lavaredo is 'only' 4kms at 12.5% average...how can they compare?...beleive me, the Tri Cime Di Lavaredo's a lot steeper than the Mortirolo and a whole deal more relentless…in fact I’d go as far as saying that the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo is the most unrelenting steep continuous 4km’s I’ve ever did!  I had also experienced severe doubts on many occasions during my ascent and at points I really had to conserve every ounce of energy…what a beast!...Now I understood why the Pro’s were in such difficulty in the Giro 2007…it's simply a horror…full stop!

After a bit we saw the Tandem lads slowly making there way up…there legs were whizzing round in that low gear…but as Stu rightly predicted the lads made there way to the top…

           Allan and Konrad nearing the very top....I bet they are happy?

Good show!...Allan was first with his sentiments “What a climb that is!”…he then looked at me and said “that’s a lot harder than the Mortirolo”…no convincing needed there!  Stu also reckoned it was way tougher…simply put  '4 km's of utter respect!'

A Few get together Photo's to mark the occasion...

                                   Allan, Konrad, Glenn and Me

                                                                                  The Lakes Lads!

We made our way inside the refuge (where I took a couple of more shots)

                              The very expensive Rifugio Auronzo

                                                              A monument at the Refuge (rock climbing?)

So inside we strolled and ordered up some very expensive goodies…and after around an hour we got ready for the descent…(this was after Glenn had used some nice virgin olive oil to lub up the Tandems squeaky chain)…now this was going to be one seriously scary plunge…Jeez, let the brakes off here and you’ll reach Warp 9?…great care and attention required...we stopped a few times on the way down and took many photos…just trying to give an idea how steep this really was...

                                    It's one scary steep mother!

                                              And it never stops!

                              How can this outrage only average 12.5% ?

After the shocking descent we retraced our steps back to the Junction with the R49...we were intending on turning Right here...(where we would blast on down to Carbonin and pick up the S51, this would take us through Cimabanche and deliver us back to Cortina)…but it was getting late and the Tandem looked to be on it's last legs so we decided we head straight back to Cortina the way we came up…back through Misurina and over the Passo Tre-Croci…this we did and what a bloody great descent that is back down to Cortina!

                      Descending the Passo Tre Croci back into Cortina 

Back through the one way system in Cortina before heading off up the lower slopes of the Passo Falzarego…15 minutes later seen us back at the Bus…Excellent!...great day with great achievement!

SUMMARY OF WHOLE TRIP

Memories…that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day!

From the good weather and the tough ordeals of Days 1 + 2, to my Dangerous foolish encounter on Day 3, then onto the Pinnacle Scenery of Day 4, and afterwards the drenching and hardship of Day 5...only to climax with the Incredible slopes of the Tri Cime Di Lavaredo …Memories?...I can honestly say ‘MANY’

The hotel and been a blessing…there was a washing machine free of charge (with soap powder), there were 2 huge heated air drying cupboards…the staff were extremely warm and friendly…the food was out of this world for the price…a full 3 course every night with a huge variety to choose from and if you wanted more then all you had to do was ask…the asking price of 44 euro per night with Half Board accommodation is incredible…and as we all paid our dues on the final day  ‘Franco’ the owner bought us a round of drinks and instructed we get the full ‘restaurant menu’ tonight along with free carafs of wine …and as we were up at 5am the next morning for our departure it was arranged that one of the staff would get up early to give us a breakfast?...what do you say to that?....I tell you what you say…if your going to ride the Dolomites then choose this hotel as your base…that’s what I say!

Hotel website here:   http://www.albergopordoi.it/uk/ambient_uk.asp

The Views from of our Hotel:

I’ve been really privileged so far with regards to being a cyclist…I’ve seen and experienced many beautiful places…and this is another notch on my card…the Dolomites are very unique…strange vertical columns that stick straight out the ground…absolutely gorgeous…most definitely one of the most awe inspiring regions I’ve ever experienced…I would simply urge you all to make a point of visiting at least once in your life…

A final statement on the trip:

1.       No one was injured

2.       The travelling went like clockwork

3.       The Hotel was fantastic

4.       We experienced a vast area of the Dolomite Mountain range

5.       We managed to accomplish all the intended Famous Passes

What more can really be said?...Success!