Dolomiti - Anti-clockwise Sellaronda

I set out at 8AM for another legendary day on the bike: this time riding the Sellaronda loop in the anti-clockwise direction. Just two days earlier, I had completed it clockwise, but this time I wanted a fresh experience, heading out via Passo Pordoi and circling through Arabba, Corvara, Passo Gardena, and Passo Sella before returning to Canazei. The climb up Passo Pordoi (2239 m) greeted me with cloud cover and an atmospheric fog that wrapped the descent to Arabba in a cinematic mist. It felt like gliding through a ghostly alpine postcard. From Arabba to Passo Campolongo, the roads came alive: cyclists everywhere! That’s because this was the day before the Maratona dles Dolomites, one of the most iconic granfondos in the world. Though I wasn’t selected in the lottery this year, I got to soak in the festive pre-race atmosphere. Cyclists from all over the world were out spinning their legs, riding short loops, and taking in the breathtaking Dolomite backdrop, which frames every corner like a masterpiece. Reaching Corvara, I launched my own little solo challenge: racing up Passo Gardena (in my mind only), weaving past others while pretending I was in my own private peloton. No one else knew about the race, but I certainly felt the burn as if it were real! After a twisty descent to Plan de Gralba, I tackled the final climb of the day: Passo Sella (2218 m). Looming gray clouds over Sass Pordoi and Sassolungo added a sense of urgency! Rain was clearly not far away. Luckily, I stayed dry and enjoyed a perfectly quiet descent back to Canazei, with virtually no car traffic. Tired but happy, this ride had it all: mountain magic, misty drama, and the company of hundreds of passionate cyclists.