6 Kenilworth Wheelers recently took on a bike packing trip from Geneva to Venice. A stunning route took them past lake Geneva, Rhône, over the pass to Italian lakes, st Moritz, Stelvio pass, onto Corvana and down into Venice. They even fitted in a “rest” day to ride the Maratona.
Day 1 gave mixed weather but then everything brightened up as the group rode down the Swiss / Italian boarder. The rain gave a good excuse for some wine tasting to give it an opportunity to pass over, so the team seem to be keeping occupied.
Next followed the most challenging leg of the tour, spanning 80 miles and ascending 9,000 ft, as we made our way over the breathtaking Simplon Pass towards our second destination, the picturesque mountain village of Santa Maria Maggiore, where our journey culminated with a summit finish.
During the descent, we encountered a road closure, yet true to form, we disregarded the signs. However, we soon found ourselves confronted by an imposing concrete barrier and an eight-foot-high fence. Our options were either to persist onward or retrace our path uphill and pass through a tunnel adorned with a “no cyclists” sign. Naturally, we opted to surmount the fence and transport our bikes across. It turned out that the road had been closed due to a landslide, but we persevered, carrying our bikes and reinitiating the ascent on the other side.
They then proceeded to descend towards the enchanting lakes shared by Italy and Switzerland—Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, and Lake Como—where their hotel awaited them right by the water’s edge. It boasted a delightful bar and restaurant, reminding them that this bike touring malarky isn’t all bad!
The following day, initially cruising along flat roads that ran alongside a couple of lakes. However, their tranquil ride was soon interrupted by the commencement of arduous climbs. Majola Pass presented them with a steep ascent, but they found solace at the top with a well-deserved beer break. Afterward, they enjoyed a pleasant stretch of 15 miles, mostly downhill, passing by captivating lakes, until they arrived at their destination of St. Moritz.
Setting off from St. Moritz, they faced a comparatively shorter day of cycling, spanning 50 miles, but punctuated by four significant climbs. These demanding ascents guided them to Bormio, where they currently find themselves enjoying a rest day—a well-deserved respite for some or an opportunity for a double ascent of Stelvio.
After a rest day, the team crossed over the Slevio pass enjoying a celebratory apple strudel and double coffee at the top before an epic descent down to Prato and joined a cycle path all the way to Merano.
The subsequent day ushered them into the captivating realm of the Dolomites, leading them towards Corvara, where they relished a couple of days of well-deserved rest before confronting the Maratona. The Dolomites, with their awe-inspiring beauty are recommended wholeheartedly for both cycling and hiking adventures.
Following their restful interlude, the momentous day of the Maratona arrived. Despite donning splendid new Maratona jerseys, it happened to be “club kit day”. With an early start scheduled for 6:30 am, reaching the starting point proved to be a tad harrowing. As five of them were lodged ten miles down the valley and desired to minimise additional climbing, they had arranged for a taxi, which unfortunately failed to materialise. Panic started to set in, but just when all seemed lost, the hotel owner’s mother came to the rescue, ingeniously managing to fit all five bikes and riders into her people carrier, ensuring their timely arrival at the start. A sigh of relief followed.
The Maratona presented a choice of three distances, all traversing the hilly terrain of the Dolomites. Three opted for the long ride, one for the medium, and two for the short. The event entailed copious amounts of climbing, exhilarating descents, and nothing flat! Fortunately, the weather proved ideal and they all had a splendid day of cycling.
After a celebratory dinner, the next day was characterised by a predominantly downhill trajectory leading them to the historic town of Vittorio Veneto, where they indulged in a lavish final-night feast (yep a lot of eating to fuel these tours). The subsequent day witnessed their graceful descent to the illustrious city of Venice
The trip had been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by great camaraderie, memorable cycling endeavors, and an abundance of beer and pizza. Anticipation for their next adventure loomed large, brimming with excitement and eager anticipation.
Date: June 2023
