Der Klassiker: Mendelpass und Gampenpass

As a Munich resident, you're not from South Tyrol, but rather from the flatlands, so it's better to first ease your way back into the world of mountain roads with some more moderate climbs. The classic double route of the Mendel Pass and the Gampen Pass came at just the right time, even if the first few kilometers were still characterized by Bolzano's city traffic and a touch of traffic hell on the SS42 towards Kaltern. With the elegant turnoff towards St. Michael, however, things largely calmed down, and when I rejoined the Mendel Pass road a little further up, I had the road almost to myself for a while. With an average gradient of 6% (it hardly gets any higher at the top), you can fully indulge in the pleasure of riding over the passes without having to escape to the oxygen tent afterwards. The Mendel Pass is neatly paved with various restaurants, souvenir shops, and a few architectural remnants from the Austro-Hungarian era, but after an 18-kilometer ascent to the south, it offers some beautiful mountain and valley views. The subsequent descent to Fondo (there's apparently even a dedicated cycling route that runs more or less parallel to the main road) isn't particularly steep, but it's a bit bumpy in places, partly on cracked asphalt. Once in town, we immediately headed back uphill to the Gampen Pass, which was also quite kind to the cyclist's legs from this side and was easy to climb. Only the clouds had already turned quite dark, and the strong wind from the north seemed like a harbinger of impending bad weather. The app, however, promised that a thunderstorm might not develop until the afternoon, and there was still some time until then. The subsequent descent to the valley was very long and pleasant. A rustic little road to Andrian through various apple orchards even added a subtle gravel feeling. The final stretch to Bolzano even had a bit of a tailwind, only the stop-and-go of city traffic interrupted the flow somewhat. As in many larger cities, cycling is rather semi-fun for those unfamiliar with the area, even though at least along the Eisack River, bicycle traffic flows largely unhindered. However, I think there's still room for improvement along the major access and arterial roads and in parts of the city center. But that's just a side note; thanks to the duo Mendel and Gampen, it was a very successful debut in South Tyrol 🙂

First of all, a big thank you goes to Steffen for the video: https://youtu.be/9dqvwdbbunw . Hello dears ✌️, today it was time again to take advantage of the nice weather 🌤🌥☀️ and get on the 🐏. This time Daniel had conjured up a tour that was practically right in front of the front door 😊 and so the group of 3, around 10 a.m., set off again on the slopes. . The first few kilometers went relaxed through a 🍎 plantation before the approx. 20km long climb made us happy 🤪. The climb of the Mendel Pass was slightly mild with us so everyone chose their own pace on the +/- 6% climb. I found a very good rhythm at 150-155 💗 and kept screwing myself up. The driveway was extremely beautiful, varied, not so overrun with 🚗🏍🚙 and the forest was also varied 🌲🌳🌲🌳 . When we got to the top of the pass, we were told... Now we're really getting started. Because we wanted to screw our way up to the Penegal (1737 m), but unfortunately the way up there was a real ramp. Sometimes about 25% was announced there and really pushed us to our limits... 🥵. But we all made it without dismounting and had earned a little snack on the mountain... 🍰☕️🥤... 😇 . The descent and the next ascent to the Gampen Pass was also very beautiful and impressive. Again and again we drove over impressive quarries, which had a very special character. On the way we have traveled so far, we often drove past sources 💧, which we used again and again to refresh ourselves or to fill up the 🍼. . The descent from the Gampen Pass was simply epic and was super easy to roll 🥰. And that's how a very nice round with my 2 favorite sports friends came to an end... logically with a tour conclusion at ☕️ & 🎂... 😍

The start and finish are in Nalles. The so-called apple autobahn takes you towards the Mendola Pass with little traffic and great views of Lake Caldaro. Via Our Lady in the Forest (what a place name!), Gampenpass and Tisens we drive back to Nalles.

Day 5 ️⃣ on 🇮🇹 vacation https://youtu.be/9dqvwdbbunw ➡️ a big THANK YOU goes out to Steffen 😊 After yesterday's "Ronda" it should be quieter again today and so the "Passo Mandola" ➕ "Passo Palade" called, but today's highlight of the day should lie in between, which the 🐷capitano Robert Petzold (Petz Racing) recommended to us ➡️ "Monte Penegal” (1727m) the beginning of our tour was quiet as usual, roll a little and you were already in the middle of the ascent to the Mendola Pass, at the beginning a little gondola through the villages... until the last 13 km on the big main road! 👍🏻 the gradient was moderate, so that it was quite easy to drive... the higher you got, the more impressive the view of the valley was!! 😍 Arrived at the top, took a short break and then to today's "final boss" ➡️almost 3.8 km + 360 vertical meters with an incline of over 20% in the meantime, had a bit of a climb to the Gerlitzen at the ES 2022.... luckily not for so long... 😅 the view from up there is by far better than on the Gerlitzen... just great!! 😍 Thanks for the tip Capitano!! 😊 then we went down again, loosening our legs a bit before the Gampenpass was ready for us!! 👍🏻 Coming from Fondo, the ascent was 14 km long, but with an average gradient of 3.8% it wasn't too bad... so it went up evenly, although at the end we took a quick look to see who hits the top first... Steffen had bad luck Put pressure on me so that in the end I had to switch to the big sheet for a moment... 😅 the descent to Lana was an absolute dream... that was so 🐏... hardly any traffic, good asphalt, a few serpentines and sometimes a great view ➡️ cyclists❤️ what more could you want?! via Nalles and a nice descent through the plantations we went back to the accommodation!! 😊 on a rather inconspicuous 🌉 Steffen Pech + Albi K. thought they had to seize world domination again and there was a small sprint competition, I spontaneously joined in... 1180 watts were just enough for victory, the calves afterwards were then first nice firmly! 😅 tomorrow is the last day together, let's see what else we (can) do there, because the weather is rather so-so and the 🦵🏻🦵🏻 are also getting tired... 😅

The descent from Tisens isn't as scenic as the one to Lana, due to the 14-16% gradient. The uphill is definitely more interesting... Otherwise, it's top-notch again.

Conclusion of our extended good-weather WE in Eppan (near Bozen). We didn't want to go that far originally, but the weather north of the Alps was just too bad. Betina had to work this morning, which gave me time for a decent round of passes. I was back in time for lunch. I wasn't expecting too much from these second tier passes (next to the many celebrities in the corner) but nothing to complain about, the whole loop was beautiful. It's unbelievable what you can see in 70 km, well, no more than in a standard lap around Munich. Special highlights were the views of the surrounding mountains, especially in the direction of the Dolomites: Catinaccio, Schlern, Sellajoch... The cycle path in front of the Mendola Pass is also remarkable (coming from the west; rather not suitable for descending). The Italians put a lot of effort into their bike lanes! A little tip for imitators: the ascent to Nalles is simply too steep and could easily be bypassed.

Start/lap from St. Michael/Kaltern - only 15 km flat towards Meran - Gampenpass 1535 meters - Possibility to stop at the top of the Gampenpass restaurant or several options after the first descent, down in the village of Fondo. - Penegal 1703 meters, 10% cut in parts to 20% incline. With a great view over Bozen and as far as Lake Caldaro. Unfortunately, the summit restaurant/hotel and facilities are not a highlight - but a coffee at the kiosk still tastes delicious. From here approx. 1300 hm downhill over the Mendola Pass!!!

Nice weather....unfortunately the Garmin didn't count all the HM....