Symon - DeRosa Dual

Favourite De Rosa Ride. 

 Although EVERY ride was memorable I think THE ride for me was the Passo Stelvio.

We started from the Northern side at Prato de Stelvio [supposedly the harder side] and it was a beautiful warm still day but you could see the snow on the tops.

Passo Stelvio is 27km long and gains 1846m twisting its way up with 42 hairpin turns with an average gradient of 7.2% and the steepest bit is 15%, so not a hill to go out too hard at the bottom!

I cannot remember how long it took me but there would have been no records set. At each turn it colder and snowier and a number of stops for extra layers were required.

At the top there is a hotel/ski lodge and a few hardy stalls selling touristy bits and pieces. I shouted myself a “commemorative” cycle top and a sticker for the bike.

The next day we rode the Motorilo to pay our respects to Marco Pantani [still my favourite rider despite his problems] and were heading for the Gavia but it was closed for snow, so that’s a good excuse to go back and do it all again some day.