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Bicycle France ... and Italy too! llc 326 Jackson St., Denver, CO 80206 USA Tel. 303 744-2078 fax 303 698-1796 67 rue Joseph Thierry, Luynes 37230 France E-mail: wwildberge@aol.com Italian Dolomites Sept. 6-13, 2010 There are fewer landscapes on the planet more spectacular than the Dolomites of Northern Italy. A network of dramatic mountain roads, which annually decide the outcome of the Giro de Italia, traverses these mountains. Well known as skiing, hiking and mountain climbing destinations, the ambiance of the mountain villages here combine the flavor of two cultures, Austrian and Italian, to form the Tyrol. Where else can you dine on exquisite seafood, flavorful local pasta and light apple strudel all in the same evening? This area of much history, dating from early times through two world wars, is only enhanced by the backdrop of the dramatic spires of the Dolomites; cameras required at all times!! Sept. 6 We transfer from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Venice, to Follina in the Pro Secco region at the base of the foothills. A short warm up ride is followed by a welcome cocktail and dinner. Our hotel for two nights is the Hotel dei Chiostri, a newly renovated cloister done in the Italian modernist style. Sept. 7 A short distance from the hotel the road turns up a box canyon, which looks impassible, but the Italian road builders have yet to meet their match. Invoking their Roman heritage they have created a unique, though certainly not straight, one of a kind route to the top. With dramatic views of the Dolomites before us we’ll pedal on to Alleghe and our hotel overlooking the lake. Sept. 8 The real thing awaits, the famous climbs of the Giro. Two options include the super-steeps of the Marmolada or the switchbacks of the Passo di Pordoi, followed by the Passo di Sella and Passo di Gardena. The dinner will more than compensate for the effort, as we luxuriate in a great setting in Corvara. Sept. 9 Choices of the day include the big Sella Ronda ride (you can also do it on skis in season), a leisurely paced pedal to Selva val Gardena for lunch or just leisuring around in Corvara and using the spa facilities at Hotel Sassonger. Sept. 10 The Olympic Rings beckon as we ride on to the former host city, Cortina. The dramatic setting, the shops and our family run hotel/pensione, Menardi, make this one of our favorite mountain towns, anywhere. To get there we climb the short but demanding Passo di Valparola followed by descending to the famous Passo Falzerego. From there it’s all downhill into Cortina. Sept. 11 We leave Cortina heading to Austria, the world’s best organized country for bike touring. We’ll climb gently then descend the Val di Landro to Dobbiacco where we’ll join the Drau Bikeway which takes us all the way to the village of Lienz, a virtual