GIVI Magazine - Giugno 2021

HANDY TIPS The best period to try out this itinerary, in terms of the weather, is May/June or September/ October, depending on whether or not the Alpine passes are open for the winter season. The period between July and August is also a possibility, although there will be many more tourists on the roads and there is a risk of meeting both tourist coaches and regular buses frequently on the roads, in addition to many cars. IMPORTANT: while planning your itinerary, check whether any events specially for cyclists have been scheduled. Every year, between June and September, the Dolomites Bike Day and Sellaronda Bike Days are held here, involving the closure of the passes to allow cyclists to move freely with no cars in the way. appearance of the landscape, compelling us to ride slowly in order to admire our magical surroundings. The heavy snowfalls of last winter are still visible here, and in some parts, there still appears to be significant piles of snow. Beyond the pass, our itinerary brought us back into Trentino-Alto Adige, or more specifically Alta Val Badia , a territory which is rich in stunningly beautiful natural attractions and particularly popular with tourists. After the settlement of La Villa, we reached Corvara in a sun-soaked hollow at the feet of Monte Sassongher, part of the Sellaronda circuit. From Corvara, we took the SS243 in the direction of Colfosco , where two connecting passes awaited us - the Gardena Pass and the Sella Pass , nestled in the heart of the Dolomites among such major ranges as the Sella massif, the Cir Group and Sassolungo. The Sella Massif was a constant, imposing presence at our side throughout this stretch, accompanying us all the way to the Gardena Pass and entrancing us with glorious views, towering waterfalls and nature at its most verdant. At the pass itself, again with an altitude of over 2,000 m, the view opened up onto Val Gardena. The artfully designed curves of the road brought us back down towards the Sella Pass , in Alta Val di Fassa , where it’s possible to marvel at Sassolungo in all its extraordinary magnificence. From the same pass, you can view not only the Sella Group but also the peak of Sass Pordoi, with the cable car making its way up. The ride itself is fantastic, and beauty spots worth stopping for a photo come one after another in quick succession. The Marmolada Group also makes a reappearance here, giving us another glimpse of its majestic glacier. We recommend stopping at a spot not too far away - the Pordoi Pass , an unmissable detour before returning to the built-up area of Canazei and bringing the Dolomites loop route to a close. Be sure not to miss the cable car ascent at the Pordoi Pass. In just 4 minutes, this takes you from an altitude of 2,239 metres to 2,950 metres, all the way to the peak of Sass Pordoi. The panoramic view is unforgettable! After one last look around and the obligatory photos at the pass, we got back in the saddle; there was still a long road ahead to go back to Brescia. We retraced some of the route we’d taken on the outward journey, through the settlements of Canazei, Moena and Predazzo. At Cavalese we chose to steer clear of the highway, opting instead to follow the directions for Val di Cembra , a zone well known to motorcyclists with a taste for speed. There’s a choice of two different roads to get you through the valley, unfurling above either side of the Avisio river. We opted for state road SS621, which offers plenty of thrilling curves but far fewer viaducts than provincial road SP71, visible on the opposite side of the valley. By the time we’d reached Trento the temperature was stiflingly hot once again, reaching 35 degrees: even wearing gloves had become unbearable and we couldn’t wait to head back through the Valle dei Laghi towards Tione . This is another valley which treats motorcyclists to delicious curves, with a number of tunnels, revealing the presence of a ravine. Towards the end, the panorama opens up onto the valley floor, where Lake Toblino lies with a castle rising from its shores. The final landmark worth making note of is the A PANORAMIC VIEW FROM SASS PORDOI town of Comano Terme , named for the thermal spa it contains, in the Judicaria Alps. After just a few more kilometres, we had left Trentino and returned to Lombardy and our own province. We skirted the full length of Lake Idro , an area which is enormously popular with the Dutch and Belgian tourists who often come here for their summer holidays. Our tour came to an end in Brescia, where we arrived tired but happy, our hearts and minds filled with sights we’ll never forget.