Report from the climb to Monte Bondone from Aldeno; return to Trento via Sardagna:
During a 3-day stay in Italy with accommodations in Arabba, we decided to climb the famous Monte Bondone pass from the Giro d'Italia. During our night drive towards Italy, we assessed the weather in the Dolomites and looked for places where it wasn't raining. The initial plan was to do three routes from Arabba, but the weather forecast directed us to Trento on the first day. We made the final decision near Brennero, and it turned out to be a very good choice;
We arrived at the free Park&Ride parking near Bici Grill Trento; After a morning coffee to wake us up, we started a 7-kilometer warm-up along the Adige River to the town of Aldeno. This is where the climb begins, with sections over 10%, so I start forming a grupetto :)
For most of the climb, I'm riding with Born_2_Climb. The route is very varied, with beautiful views of the Adige Valley, the towns of Aldeno and Covelo. At Garniga Terme, there's a 3-kilometer flat section, but then comes a 5-kilometer stretch with an average gradient of over 8% in a very picturesque area. The scent of the mountain forest, the sound of streams, and the sun breaking through the clouds make the climb very enjoyable. Marcin left us in the first few kilometers, and Born_2_Climb leaves our 2-person grupetto 6km before the summit - that is, he rides ahead while I start to "drift." Here, my newly installed cassette with a 34-tooth cog comes in handy. At a steady but very slow pace, I head towards today's goal. Two Italians pass me before the terrain flattens out and I reach the summit. Unfortunately, all the eateries are closed, it starts to rain, the temperature drops, and Marcin has been at the summit for 30 minutes. After a few photos at the Monte Bondone sign, we begin the descent in a 3-person group towards Trento via Sardagna;
Along the way, we pass dozens of cyclists climbing from the northern side. The road here is wider than from Aldeno, but I find the climb from Aldeno, with its narrow road among the trees, more attractive. However, the descent towards the north seems safer. We ride into Trento and head to Bici Grill for lunch and non-alcoholic beer;
We still have a 2-hour drive to Arabba, during which we plan two routes for the coming days. The choice falls on the Valparola Pass from La Villa and the Sella Ronda;
We are very satisfied with today's choice - the route is highly recommended. We confirm our decision as we drive through Passo Pordoi - it's slippery after the rain, and the temperature is around 2°C. Fortunately, the forecasts for Saturday and Sunday are better;
Logistical Summary:
the ideal starting point is the Park&Ride parking, located 100m from Bici Grill Trento, which offers good coffee;
the route from Aldeno to Monte Bondone has a good surface, practically no car traffic, with little motorcycle traffic; convenient descent through Candiai and Sardagna;
during the season, there should be no problem finding a place to eat;
Krzysztof Nowacki