Passo Pordoi / Fedaia - Italy
Passo Pordoi is a perfect and gentle ride right next to the Sella. Passo Fedaia brings you as close to the mighty Marmolada as is possible. Both passes are laden with Giro folklore too which makes this ride special.
Passo Pordoi - 2237m
From Arabba, the Passo Pordoi winds itself over 9.2km up a very wide meadow covering 642m altitude gain and 33 gorgeous hairpin turns. It is a gentle pass and a steady climb, the wide Valle di Fodom and the neighbouring cliffs of the Sella give it ist special character. We left early on a gorgeous day in the still mild sunshine. There are mountain flowers by the roadside in full bloom and marmots whistling on the adjacent fields. The stunning scenery exudes a calmness and you loose yourself in your thoughts as you paddle up the hill. Somehow you don't want this climb to end. Truly wonderful. The top is busy with cabe car stations, bus stops, bikers, souvenir shops and the invariable memorial to Fausto Coppi, Italy's most famous ever rider. But the Passo Pordoi is very special and the fast flowing descent through never ending switch backs to Canazei leaves nothing to be desired.
Although the climb to Passo Pordoi from Canazei is slightly longer and has more switchbacks, I look back on this ride to Passo Pordoi from Arabba with great fondness as its route is so gentle and wonderful, layed out totally in the open. It has been an absolute pleasure riding it.
Start early - peace
The road is empty first thing in the morning and it winds its way beautifully up the hill. Totally peaceful, aided by a wide open alpine meadow through which the road winds itself to the top.
Gentle switchbacks
The switchbacks provide the rhythmic background to this climb, all 33 of them. There are marmots whistling and wildflowers to enjoy. Very nice.
Sella everywhere
Throughout the entire climb, the imposing cliffs of the Sella tower over the road. The juxtaposition of the sweet meadow you ride on and the fabulous cliffs above make this a very unique climb.
Riding the Sella and Marmolada in one ride
There is no better way of spending the day
Passo Fedaia - 2054m
While the Passo Pordoi charms with its serenity, the Passo Fedaia has an almost industrial quality to it. It is dark, moody and mysterious. We came up from Canazai from Val di Fassa, first along the valley floor and then through a series of hairpins into a much tighter valley where the road rises and clings to the right side of the mountains. It offers fantastic views of the Marmolada to the left, the highest Dolomite peak at 3343m. The ascent is moderate at 612m elevation gain, 10.8km in length and through seven hairpin turns. This is the easier side of the pass but by far the prettier as it offers stunning view on the ice and rock towering above to your left. You arrive through a tunnel at a reservoir lake that perfectly frames the mountains, valley and the road. The Giro loves the ascent from the other side though and you can see why.
For people who love the drama of the mountains, this is the side to ride up. For folks who love a steep road drenched in Giro folklore, the side from Caprile is the one to take.
Into the valley
After leaving the Canazeir and the valley floor and negotiating a number of switch backs, the road starts clinging to the side of the mountain given this pass a slighly claustrophobic and intense character.
Marmolada view
Throughout the upper section of the climb, the Marmolada towers of the valley on your right. This is a very impressive view and one of the reasons to tackle the Fedaia from Canazai.
Looking back
Looking back shows how tight the upper part of the Val di Fassa is. It has a little something of the Rocky Mountains about it.
The whole experience is very rewarding.
Climbing Passo Fedaia from Caprile
Riding the Passo Fedaia from Caprile is a very different ride. It is much longer, steeper and gains more altitude. The first 8km of climbing from Caprile take you through the Val Pettorina on a steady gradient but then, the work really starts: the famous straight stretch of the road between the Marmolada cable car and the start of the upper switch backs. It is 2.6km long, dead straight with an average 12% gradient, topping out at 18%. You see people almost going backwards on this stretch of road. Marco Pantani decided the 1998 Giro on these slopes through an audacious attack. This section is followed by 10 switch backs over 2.5km and 10.5% average gradient, there is no letting up of the pain. Even the start from Caprile is stern and this is probably one of the hardest climbs in the Dolomites. If you descent this side, check your breaks as this is a fast downhill!
Passo Pordoi from Arabba
Length: 9.3 km
Altitude gain: 643 m
Max altitude: 22247 m
Average gradient: 6.9%
Max gradient: 10.6%
Passo Fedaia from Canazei
Length: 10.8 km
Altitude gain: 612m
Max altitude: 2055 m
Average gradient: 5.7%
Max gradient: 11%
Route Tip: Passo Pordoi and Passo Fedaia can be included in a great circular ride with varying starting points, e.g. Arabba, Canazei or Caprile. Arabba is a great place for a lunch stop. Anti-clockwise there are three moderate ascends, Passo Pordoi, Fedaia and the climb to Arabba. Clockwise you have to content with the ferocious climb of the Fedaia from Caprile which shows double figure gradients continuously for around 5.5 km.
