Aprica, Mortirolo, Stelvio, and the Gran Fondo Marco Pantani *modem burner*
 

Just back from 6 days in northern Lombardia, to get some riding i and take part in the 4th edition of the Gran Fondo Marco Pantani.

I went with the first wave of the group, catching a ride with a friend, who was bringing some old friends of his, who I hadn't met before. After a long drive from the lowlands, we finally arrived at our destination Aprica, a village at +/- 1,200M above sea level, just in time to eat some dinner, and catch the Italy-France game.

While it had rained for the previous 2 weeks, including the day of our arrival, the weather cleared up overnight.

The plan for the first day was to climb the Gavia. My friend had planned out the course, and for some reason I didn't ask any questions. Long story short, we went the wrong way.

Due to road works, we had to take a 17km detour, which was a descent down rough roads, filled with potholes, which were difficult to spot because the pavement was still wet from the previous rain.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...anele_view.jpg

Here's a view, looking down the SS48, the main road that connects Sondrio, Tirano, Bormio, etc.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2..._san_crist.jpg

After realizing that we went in the opposite direction, the plan was changed, back to Aprica we went, ascending the Santa Cristina, part of which which is the closing climb of the GF Pantani.


http://www.climbbybike.com/profile_5...na_profile.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2..._san_crist.jpg

There was graffiti, some old, some new, along the way.

After returning to Aprica, we headed down to Edolo in a fruitless quest for a pizza, then it was back uphill to the Hotel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ni/04_apri.jpg

After +/-1800 meters of climbing, this was just the welcome I was looking for.

On Thursday, the group split in two. For some reason I decided to join my friend, and do a recce of the Mortirolo. At the time, it seemed like a good idea, especially considering the fact the the other two wanted to ride the Gavia AND the Mortirolo.

We had to take the same crappy detour descent, then ride to Mazzo, to start the Mortirolo.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ni/05_mazz.jpg

Mazzo 'city' center.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/06_morti.jpg

Open for business.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/07_morti.jpg

Before the hard part begins.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/08_morti.jpg

Old graffiti to the left, and new to the right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/09_morti.jpg

One thing that surprised me is the fact that there are plenty of houses along the road.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/10_morti.jpg

Getting close to the Pantani Monument.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/11_morti.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/12_morti.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/13_morti.jpg

RIP.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/14_morti.jpg

After the monument the road 'flattens' to a mere 9-10%, then the trees clear.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/15_morti.jpg

At last, after 1300 Meters of climbing, we hit the top.

The descent that we took, wasn't much of a descent to begin with. If truth be told, there were still some hills to climb, then some rolling terrain.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ti_descent.jpg

At least there was a view.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/17_morti.jpg

And still some snow.

For the second day in a row, the ride ended lasting at least 90 minutes longer than I planned. I only brought two bars with me, and was getting hungry. That, mixed with fatigue, and what turned out to be a slightly technical descent, resulted in my going down in a switchback.

I was pissed, mostly because I scratched my STI levers, and got a hole in my F1:13s. Fortunately the road rash was light.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/19_forst.jpg

Once I got back to Aprica I grabbed a panini, and a pain killer.

BTW - the guys who planned on riding both the Gavia and the Mortirolo came to their senses, and only rode the Gavia.

On Thursday the rest of the group arrived, and the next morning we set off by car to the Stelvio, with the plan to drive to the top, descend to Prato, then climb back up.

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile_5...to_profile.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...stevl_prat.jpg

The start of the climb, riding past old fortifications.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/21_stelv.jpg

It starts easy, then opens up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/22_stelv.jpg

One of the 48 hairpins.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/23_stelv.jpg

Looking down.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/24_stelv.jpg

Looking up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/25_stelv.jpg

Top of the world Mom, top of the world.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/26_stelv.jpg

After 1,800 meters of altitude over 24.5km of climbing, it was time for lunch. I can not tell a lie: the Pizza Stelvio was AMAZING.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/27_stelv.jpg

An added bonus, the Coppi Monument was 30 feet away from our table.

After riding WAY too much, I decided to take it easy on Saturday.

I washed my bike, shaved my legs, picked up my number, and ride packet, then checked out the expo stands.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ni/28_apri.jpg

The main street in town.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ni/29_apri.jpg

One of the expo stands, with some collectors items.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ni/30_apri.jpg

The place where I knew I had no hope in hell to stand on.

While it's pretty normal to get a jersey as part of your ride packet in a Gran Fondo (or so I believe), the Pantani require you to wear it on the day, under threat of disqualification. The jersey of the first edition was similar to an old Mercatone Uno design, the 2nd was styled after the Pink jersey of the Giro, last years was based on the Tour de France mountains jersey. This year, they choose green, in homage of the Giro mountains jersey.

While I've always preferred a snug shirt, these fir more like a skinsuit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/31_shirt.jpg

They also revealed life's excesses. Nope, that's not me.

Watching almost every guy who tried their's on, then go back and ask for a size up was almost comical.

For the record, I sized up, then went back and asked for the medium back, tha I had originally requested. Vanity be damned.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...inoveritas.jpg

Then, all there was to do was eat dinner, and drink some wine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...tani/32_EK.jpg

After that, the lobby filled up to watch the Holland v Russia game. Needless to say the were many unhappy guests that night.

The next morning was the ride, 4000 meters of altitude, over 172 km. No pics, didn't bring my camera along for that one.

A report on that will be on my blog shortly.

Nice report, gorgeous pictures.

Great report Botto. I'm jealous.

i hate you

Wow BEAUTIFUL pics, botto! I love the ones of the hairpins and the snow on the mountain tops. I wish I can travel....Thank you for bringing the traveling to us! :)

Thanks for posting this! Too bad about the bibs and rash...the ride looks like it was worth it though.

You suck.:P


I'm on vacation this week and I'm sitting here building a wheel.


Looks like a great time. Thanks for the postcards.

Awesome TR!

What I like about skiing and bicycling is that they take you places! Adventure around every corner.

Damn you, botto.

here's some bonus shots.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/34_bonus.jpg

the back side of the Stelvio (i.e. the route from Bormio to the top).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/36_bonus.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/37_bonus.jpg

Some shots from the drive back, over the Bernina pass, of the Bernina Glacier.

Good on ya botto. I've driven near that part of the world but my missus wouldn't let me detour over any of the big passes due to her suffering from a case of extreme terror, so the sucky motorway over the Brenner was route rather than hairpin goodness. Thanks for letting me know what I missed!

Love all that climbing...

The Europeans certainly understand how to enjoy life...

Outrageously perfect botto. Even though I knew what to expect on this thread I still said "OMG" when the first pic came up. Thanks again for sharing what real terrain looks like.

How was your bike set up for the climbs...

Did you make any changes from riding the Flatlands to the Mountains...

went from my 53/39 to a 50/34, and 12/25 to a 12/27.

It would have been very difficult to have gone up the Mortirolo in anything heavier than a 34x27, and pretty much impossible on the Santa Cristina.

Amazing and stunning...thanks for sharing.

absolutely beautiful pics, botto!

Thanks for the pics & welcome back.

Just looking at those climbs almost makes me puke in imagined suffering.

Blimey. Beautiful riding. One day maybe i'll have the legs for that kinda ride.

Amazing, thanks for sharing all the photos. Holy crap that's a lot of climbing. I'm missing the mountains now.

Any chance you have the elevation profile for your rides? Tremendous pics !!!