Gran Tour del Montozzo

Epic itinerary of great satisfaction, challenging and technically complete, recommended for trained and experienced bikers. We are in the Stelvio National Park with spectacular views: from the glaciers of Adamello- Presanella and San Matteo, to the wide panoramas of the Pezzo and Peio valleys, from the high altitude grasslands (we reach 2613 m) to the forests and alpine lakes, from the artifacts of the First World War to the characteristic rural mountain buildings.

Leaving the car in Pontedilegno, in the parking lot in front of the funicular, we enter the Pezzo valley and continue in the direction of the magnificent alpine pasture of Case di Viso (1,800 m).

View of the Bozzi hut as you ascend to the fork:

We immediately begin to struggle with a challenging, but beautiful, dirt road that leads to the 2,500 m of the Bozzi Refuge (a restorative break is in order). About 100 m of elevation gain remains, to be covered on a steep, uneven-bottomed road (difficult to stay in the saddle), to reach the highest point of our itinerary: the Forcellina del Montozzo, 2.613 m. After long exertions it is finally time for a spectacular single track, one of the best we have faced so far, which will accompany us all the way to Val di Pejo. The descent is very varied: from technical sections with split rocks to faster sections on beaten ground, to exposed sections on steep gullies, to sections in the woods.

Arriving at the fork you can admire an incredible sight and catch a glimpse of the splendid trail that will take us all the way to Val di Peio. You can also admire a trench from the Great War.

From here we have 21 km of descent awaiting us on terrain that is never too difficult (be careful, however, that the phone almost never picks up), I would say a nice S2 with a few S3 passages. The first part is on typical alpine flow trail with some rocky sections, the second part, as soon as you enter the woods, is a bit more technical and there are many switchbacks. When you get to the end of the trail you arrive at the dam with beautiful emerald water:

Between asphalt road and bike paths we reach the village of Vermiglio; we continue with the provincial road in the direction of "Passo del Tonale," which we will leave after a few kilometers to enter a pleasant military road, with moderate and regular gradient until we reach the long-awaited Pass (1.890 m). Here begins the descent towards Pontedilegno, if you are exhausted you can opt for the provincial road, but we recommend you to go down the very fun and not too technical downhill track that will accompany you to the car.

Itinerary that also contains text and photos by robibz.