Owen rides the Stelvio Pass

 18 July  The Stelvio Pass is the highest bicycle route in Italy at 2757m - exactly the same height as Mt Ruapehu.  Owen rode from our campsite at Prato, a ride of 26km with 48 hairpin bends and a climb of almost 1900m.  It is also very popular with motorcyclists and there were plenty of them on the road as well as cyclists.  Once reaching the summit of the pass, and recovering somewhat, he rode down the other side to Bormio - more hairpins and several narrow, dark tunnels too.  I drove down and met him in our car.  Then we drove back over again to our campsite at Prato.

The daunting view of the hairpins climbing to the top of the pass - scary enough in a car!

On the lower slopes

That's Owen nearing the top

Owen at top left

Almost there!

Quite a bit of snow around but it was a sunny, calm day and a pleasant 19 deg C

Plenty of souvenirs, food and coffee available at the summit