The Queen Stage of the Dolomites [Passos Pordoi, Sella and Gardena; 8/15 - 55mi, +5810ft]

There is a central massive uplift in the middle of the Dolomites known as the Sella Gruppe and a road runs a ring around it with four major passes, each just as spectacular as the last. Luckily you never drop all the way down into the valley so it's possible to ride the whole ring in a day. I did 3/4ths of it today and it was, quite literally, perhaps the single most awe inspiring day of cycling in my entire life!

After a nice early morning descent from my camping shack last night I tackled the Passo Pordoi at 2239M on the south side of the Sella Gruppe first. Simply amazing.

A partial drop down and then right back up again to the Passo Sella at 2240M. Words and photos cannot begin to describe the feeling of being surround by such immense vertical peaks climbing into the sky!

Possibly the best coffee view ever at the top of Passo Sella:

Another partial descent, and back up again to my final crest of the day at Passo Gardena (2121M.)

Passo Gardena at 2121M

Today was just so far beyond words that it's not worth even trying! Enough said.