The Dolomites

Every great week in the Dolomites begins the same way: with fresh legs, a new Pinarello beneath you, and a short, sharp ride to remind you exactly where you are. Our opening day is a deliberately compact 25 kilometers, giving riders a chance to settle in, dial in bike fit, and shake off the travel. But compact does not mean flat. The climb above Corvara toward Pescol offers a genuine taste of what the week has in store — steep, technical, and utterly beautiful. Consider it an aperitivo.

Day two introduces the week's first real climbing day, with two classic Dolomites passes on the menu. The Passo Campolongo is one of the four pillars of the Sella Ronda circuit, a steady, rhythmic climb that rewards patience. The Valparola is something else entirely — a narrow, exposed road that winds up through the remains of World War I fortifications toward a summit at over 2,190 meters. Both climbs are regulars in the Maratona dles Dolomites and the Giro d'Italia, and together they make for a day that earns its place in the memory. At 51 kilometers, the distance is manageable. The 1,313 meters of gain is anything but casual.

This is the queen stage of the week, and one of the great single-day rides anywhere in the Alps. Three legendary passes, back to back, with nearly 2,500 meters of climbing woven into 83 kilometers. The Passo Giau leads the way — a climb that peaks above 2,200 meters and has served as a decisive battleground in multiple editions of the Giro d'Italia. Its upper slopes, exposed to the sky and flanked by the Dolomites' characteristic rock towers, are as dramatic as road cycling gets. The Falzarego and Valparola follow in succession, two more iconic climbs that need no embellishment. By the time you roll back into Corvara, you will have earned every course at dinner.

The Sella Ronda is one of the most celebrated rides in the Dolomites — a compact loop around the Sella massif that strings together four 2,000-meter passes in just over 50 kilometers. Ridden clockwise, the day takes in the Passo Gardena, Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi, and Passo Campolongo in sequence, with barely a flat stretch between them. It is a ride that looks manageable on paper and feels relentless in the saddle, in the best possible way. The views from the Pordoi alone — the highest pass of the loop at 2,239 meters — justify the effort several times over.

After the demands of the previous two days, Day 5 offers something more measured — though the Falzarego has a way of reminding you that nothing in the Dolomites comes easy. The day is built around a focused ascent of the Passo Falzarego, one of the range's most storied climbs, rising through switchbacks and open alpine meadows to a summit at 2,105 meters. At 51 kilometers and 1,381 meters of gain, this is the week's most manageable day by the numbers, which makes it the ideal moment to ride with intention rather than ambition. Save something for tomorrow.

The week closes as it deserves to — with the biggest day of climbing and one of the most spectacular finishes in the Dolomites. The Lago Fedaia sits at the foot of the Marmolada, the highest peak in the range, and the road to reach it is a sustained, demanding effort that has shaped some of the Giro's most dramatic moments. At 83 kilometers and 2,621 meters of elevation gain, this is a day that asks everything of you. And it gives back in equal measure. The views across the glacial lake to the Marmolada's ice wall are unlike anything else in cycling. A fitting farewell to the mountains.

This is our final morning together and after a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye, or at least arrivederci, until we meet again. Transfers to the airport will be arranged by our hard-working crew but if you’re planning on staying a few extra days, let us know if we can help with reservations or a few recommendations.