On the 7th of July 2025, I set off early from Canazei on my road bike for what would become one of the most challenging and rewarding rides of my Tour De Pasta series. The route began with a familiar yet always spectacular climb over Passo Pordoi, with its sweeping switchbacks and views of the Dolomites. After a scenic descent to Arabba under calm skies, I encountered a surprise traffic jam - a stuck truck on a tight hairpin bend, forcing me to dismount and hike around it! The ride continued down through Livinallongo del Col di Lana, passing historic WWI sites and the quiet villages that lie in the shadow of Monte Civetta. Reaching Rocca Pietore, I turned toward the mighty Passo Fedaia - one of the Dolomites' most feared climbs. The real suffering starts at Malga Ciapela, where the road pitches relentlessly upward at gradients over 10%. A brutal, dead-straight segment drains your willpower before Rifugio Capanna Bill marks the beginning of steep hairpin turns climbing toward the summit. Along the way I shared a laugh (and pain!) with a couple of Czech cyclists equally worn out by the ascent. At the top, I was greeted by jaw-dropping views of Marmolada - the Queen of the Dolomites - as well as Lago Fedaia and its imposing dam. After soaking it all in, I descended smoothly back to Canazei, legs battered but spirits high.
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