If the first half of the Maratona is about going up into the
high peaks and staying there, the second is about revisiting similar heights
but each time descending the whole way back into the much greener valleys. The climbs are long and you drop all the way
back down before the next one.
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| On the way to Passo Giau |
Yesterday I covered the first 4 passes and today I’ll finish
with the last two biggies. If you are
doing the Medio course you split off and head up the Falzarego which is twisty
and through woods. Eventually you’ll
come out on the now familiar Dolomite moonscape and turn left at the pass to
climb just a bit more before dropping down into Carvara. This descent is not for the faint hearted.
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| You'll go to the right of that big lump of mountain |
The full Maratonna people keep going towards the Passo Giau,
another famous Giro climb. This one is
long (10km)and unhelpfully features plenty of 13% gradients. It starts off a right hand turn and
immediately heads upwards though pretty woods.
After a while you start to see where you are heading and
come out of the woods into high pastures, and eventually snow. It’s pretty tough all the way – no flat bits
that I can remember.
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| Click on picture to get the full view |
At the top are truly spectacular views, and the descent is
on wonderfully smooth roads with lots of straight sections for the first part
before it becomes very twisty and hairpinny.
Strong hands will be needed for all the braking into these tight
corners.
At the bottom you immediately turn left and start on the
final climb – Falzarego. Must say I was
disappointed with this one. A long drag
though a forest on 8% gradients which just go on and on forever - easily 10km with a bit of 5% in there too.
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| Near the top on Falzarego |
Once up and past Falzarego you have another 80m of climbing
to get over the Valparola before dropping off down to Corvara. This is a spectacular descent and will
require all your concentration.
And that's it – the Maratona dles Dolomites. The most extraordinary setting for a cycling
event where the fantastic views compete for your attention with the pain it
takes to reach them.
More pictures from around the course tomorrow in Part 3.
Good luck everyone!