Maratona dles Dolomites 2007 *modem burner*
 

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Schiphol to Verona, 7 guys with 6 bikes (my bike made its way in the trunk of a car).

The wait to get the keys for the two rentals was almost as long as the actual flight.

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Once we loaded up the bikes and luggage, we made our way to Alta Badia, checked in, and chilled out. The plan for the guys with bikes was to go for a ride. Thanks to the weather (rain, and snow - believe it or not) they took naps.

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The area was full of other 'teams', with most of the Italians sporting team jackets.

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The next day the weather took a turn for the better, and we went on a recce of the Sella Ronda.

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We received a warm welcome.

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2007s pic from the Camoplongo, looking down on Corvara.

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Some of the other riders checking things out.

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The Coppi Monument on the Pordoi. I had to wait forever to take this pic because some dudes from the Carpenter-Phinney Bike Camp home were standing in front of it, waiting to get their pic taken by Connie Carpenter. She offered to take my pic, which was tempting, but the guys I was riding with had already started descending.

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Some pics from the top of the Passo Sella (the ascent, and the descent).

After the Sella Ronda, we took it easy for a few days, and did a little sight-seeing along the course. Some snaps from the Falzarego, the penultimate climb of the Maratona, and the Valporola, the final climb, both were scenes of heavy fighting in WWI.

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A war monument on the Falzarego.

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Looking down on a few cafes on the Falzarego, with Maratona riders checking the course out.

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Passo Falzarego, looking towards the Valporola.

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The view from inside Forte Tre Sassi, looking at the final climb of the Maratona.

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Looking down on what was once Austrian fortifications and trenches from WWI.

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The final descent, down the Falzarego, towards San Cassiano.

Now, for the ride itself... I don;t have any pics. I opted not to take my camera this year. You'll have to make do with a ride report, coming shortly.

For now, here's a pic taken around 5:10 AM, 50 minutes before the start:

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And a pic of one of the rewards, taken 4 hours after the finish:

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I soooooooo gotta do this next year.

Great pictures Botto!!! well done

I hate you......;)

get in the back of the line. :D

Cool.
MMmmm....I'm thirsty.

my god. makes san diego coast cycling look like trash as always.
:O

Terrific pictures Botto. We want to see you too. Post your pic.

No we don't.....don't ruin a nice thread........:D

Wow the pictures are amazing. I am so jealous.

you are one lucky guy.

I'm behind him:p

Botto, so is this Italy? I don't know my geography very well. Great photos... I am planning on a European tour next year (when I brush up on my geography.)

yep.

italy, at least as of 1918 (more or less).

Wow!

Excuse my ignorance (which I know you won't) all of those logistics for a ride or was it a race?

Nice!

cleave, you'll always get a pass.

for a precious few it's a race. for someone built like me (and +/-9,000 others), it's more of a ride.

it's a granfondo, where everybody has a chip, so you get your time measured along the way, with a detailed result.

one of raimundas rumsas' teammates won it this year. he finished about 1:30 minutes ahead of me. :o

well done, once again, on the photos.

:beer:

make sure mrs. cylowe gets a chance to check 'em out. ;)

my melville-esque ride report wil be hitting the blog sometime tomorrow.

you know she's got a crush on your.... photography.

:p

It's the Fourth, man. Make sure to knock back a few tallboy cans of Schlitz and be rude to everyone in Amsterdam. USA! USA! USA!

Did you see my pal Jim Hoffman?

terry,

i'm afraid i missed him (along with Greg and Geoff LeMond, as well as Davis and Taylor Phinney).

botto's Euro photos RULE.

+ infinity

Europe roxors!!!