Passo San Pellegrino, Passo Fedaia (Marmolada)

It is one of the toughest tours of the Dolomites, in a harsh environment but very attractive, and therefore very popular. A very long and demanding route that is a challenge even for well-trained cyclists due to the steep ascent to the mighty Passo Fedaia, which is 14 kilometres long with gradients up to 18 percent.

The tour information
The tour begins with an ascent, although a moderate one that leads to the Moena. Here we turn right and take the road to the Passo San Pellegrino for about 11 kilometres, which makes an altitude difference of 700 meters. The first kilometer is steep with grades between 9 to 10 percent, after which follows an easier section where we should absolutely try to catch breath before we hit the extremely steep road for about 1,5 kilometres.
Slowly the road becomes more flat, although we continue to rise. There are very few bends up to the 1850 meter high Passo San Pellegrino, where we admire a splendid panorama of the Civetta and the surrounding mountains.
It follows the descent up to the junction of the Passo Valles. It is fast and fluid in the first part but becomes steep and a bit tricky later on, because of the hairpin bends. After 5,5 kilometres we reach the junction and turn right towards Falcade and Cencenighe. Here, in the small village of Canale d’Agordo Pope John Paul I. was born.
Passing through a tunnel we reach Cencenighe and turn left onto the road that leads us slightly uphill to the Lake of Alleghe, which lies at the foot of the Civetta mountain group.
Here, we need to catch breath, for after a few more almost flat kilometers begins the dreaded ascent to the Passo Fedaia, immediately after we leave the village of Caprile.
After a short time we reach the village of Sottoguda and its famous „Serrai“. This is a close and picturesque ravine, lined by up to 60 meters high perpendicular walls, where the road is so narrow, it can be only driven upwards and against a toll of 2,00 euros.
Once leaving „Serrai“, we reach the wide  valley of the Malga Ciapela. Here starts the thoughest part of the ascent with constant grades between 11 and 18 percent. The last straight section, which leads to the last haipin bends is extremely grueling. However, here we know that the highest point of the tour is not far.

The panorama widens, it becomes impressive, especially the view of the Civetta group. The road condition in the ascent (except for the “Serrai”) is very good and the second part of it, is completely in the sun in summer, however in the high season you have to calculate the heavy traffic.
Once we reach the Passo Fedaia, the route continues along the Fedaia lake, before we roll down to Canazei in the Val di Fassa. From here we follow on the bike path along Avisio, crossing the villages of Pozza di Fassa, Moena and Predazzo, before returning to Panchìa.

Distance: 120,0 km Height variation:1760mt Riding time: 7:00 h Difficulty:expert

Passo San Pellegrino:
Distance:11 ,5 km Height variation: 700 mt Max. gradient:14%Average gradient:6,5%

Passo Fedaia:
Distance:14 km Height variation: 1060 mt Max. gradient:18%Average gradient:7,5%