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there's a lot in your post, but to pick up on one point, the Niviolet is incredible but that's pretty much all there is in the valley and it's not a through road, so just an out and back. I rode it from Locana a few years back and though it's an astounding climb I'm not sure it's worth the 5 hour drive from Bormio.
fredtc
I'm off to northern Italy for 2 weeks at end of June. My first time there so super excited after watching the Giro every year to finally get to go.
I'll be based in Bormio so have the Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo on the doortstep, but any other recommendations around there? I'll have a car so can drive around to find some epic spots.
Its quite near the borders of Switzerlnd and Austria, I don't even know if I'm allowed to take my hire car to those countries or if I have to stay in Italy where I booked car, but if I take my passport with me on a ride is it quick and easy to just pass to and fro across borders lycra'd up on a bike, if I wanted to venture into some Swiss or Austrian rides? And any nearby you'd recommend? Or is border crossing like this likely to be a lengthy ball ache and best avoided? Any other tips, I've heard you can get fucked over with data roaming charges in Switzerland, but I think you get fucked over financially for everything there so that's no real surprise.
I was always wide eyed with wonder watching the Giro seeing them ride stages with descents that go on for 40km, and so I'd love to do a bit of that. Any idea what the actual longest descent in northern Italy would be? The Colle del Nivolet from Locana seems to be one such 40km descent/ascent, so I may venture over there for that as that looks lovely riding too. And on the way to there/way back I may visit around Lake Maggiore/Como/Garda too. I'm not a fan of cycling in super hot weather so if the lakes are proper scorchio at end of June/early July I'll maybe stick to the mountains.
Other options I've loosely penciled in are a few days in the Dolomites, Passo Pordoi looks pretty amazing, Passo Boldo with the crazy tunnels. Any other must do's?
As just mentioned on the MTB thread I'm also due to go to Val Di Sole to watch and cheer on a mates son who is in the yoof UCI downhill champs, and may try and some MTB there, so will be there from 30th June to 2nd July, but otherwise I'm free to do what I want. I can't be arsed with any city action so just cycling fun for 2 weeks. Any other recommendations or GPX's for nice rides there you've done there you can share? Thanks all.