By Bike

Madonna Di Campiglio to Bormio

Another perfect day for cycling.

Today, the mighty Passo Gavia (2652m). And meeting up with Sue, Alexis and our friend Toni.

A short climb to warm the legs, followed by a long, cool and rapid descent to the valley below. Another long climb to Passo del Tonale (1884m). It’s heating up fast. Only 10am, and already it’s 27 degrees at 1000m.

At the pass I meet and elderly couple who’ve also ridden up from their home in the valley below on their beautiful old Bianchi bicycles decked out in old racing finery. They look so fit. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough Italian to converse. I want to ask them lots of questions about their cycling. We exchange as much as we can. I press on.

Finally, the big one. I’ve made good time to here. I ride up a short way to a roadside stop with a lovely fountain and patch of shaded lush green grass to rehydrate, refuel and have a little rest. It’s a slow and steady climb up to the pass. Lots of switchbacks through the forest, then it opens out into the alpine zone with @1000m in elevation to go.

At one point, a sign says 14%, the Garmin says 16%. What’s 2% among friends. I keep grinding.

I spot some wild raspberry growing in the forest. Too tempting to pass by. They are smaller than the farm varieties, but a richer, more intense flavour that lingers in my mouth for the next hour.

As I’m foraging, an American cyclist passes.

“You ok man?”

Sure, just stopped to pick raspberries.

A few km on I pass him.

“How were the raspberries man?”

Delicious, every one of them.

At the pass, while resting, he catches me again…

“Hey, it’s the Raspberry Man!”

I’m lost for words. I check out the cycling memorabilia in the restaurant at the Pass. Great photos of exhausted racers riding over the pass flanked by a 3m wall of snow.

As I’m getting ready to head off, I see Alexis and Sue drive by. I yell out, but they’ve already gone. The chase is on. Barely 100m I need to stop for a photo op. I jump back on the bike and head off in pursuit, diving down the steep descent, reaching speeds close to 70km/hr and weaving my way through the 20 or so switchbacks. Right near the bottom, after 15 km and at the last switchback, I finally catch them.

Jubilation, we head to our stay in Bormio.

According to Garmin

Total distance: 98.2km

Max speed: 69.07km/hr

Calories: 4108

Ascent: 2551m

Descent: 2827m