Transprealpi

I am reposting this long, challenging, comprehensive, and rewarding route on the new TC, which covers the entire high-altitude cycling crossing of the Prealps straddling the provinces of Treviso and Belluno.

As is tradition, the “virtual” starting point is the Fener-Alano-Valdobbiadene train station, from where, after loading your bike onto a morning regional train, you’ll reach Belluno station in just under an hour—the actual starting point of the long crossing. You cycle through the city center and then descend to the Piave River, cross to the other side, and climb along secondary roads toward Sossai (elevation 500 meters). Here the road becomes a pleasant dirt path, with a good surface of compacted gravel, which climbs until it emerges at an elevation of 930 meters near Nevegal.

After refilling your water at one of the two fountains, you continue climbing the numerous paved hairpin turns up to 1,400 meters (La Casera restaurant), where you leave the paved road to tackle the challenging climbs that, with exceptional views of the Belluno Dolomites to the north, lead up to the Col Visentin Mountain Hut (1,764 meters). The subsequent descent is on gravel to Forcella Zoppei (1,420 meters), then on rough asphalt to the junction for the climb to Malga Cor, where you take the high-altitude trail (be careful on the first downhill slope; it is recommended to walk it) leading to the Pian delle Femene mountain hut (1,130 meters).

The subsequent traverse passes through La Posa, then climbs toward Mount Cimone where a descending trail leads first to the Col dei Gai bivouac, then continues along forest roads and trails—some of which are more technical—until emerging at Caldella and then at Passo S-Boldo (720 meters). You now ascend the challenging Trail No. 2, which becomes easier only when the Costa Curta Bivouac comes into view, and then continues—with a short but worthwhile detour—to the Bivacco dei Loff (1,150 meters).

Continue toward Casera Vallon Scuro, then enjoy a beautiful descent toward Forcella Foran, and finally skirt around Col de Moi to take the rather technical downhill trail leading to Passo Praderadego (920 meters; here, on Sundays during the summer, a refreshment stand run by the Mel Alpine Group is open, and the dairy hut located on the pass is also open).

The subsequent climb toward Malga Canidi offers little respite given the numerous steep inclines to tackle to reach the “Via delle Malghe,” which, with its continuous ups and downs, passes through Malga Mont, Bivacco Salvedella, and Malga Ai Pian before finally reaching the Posa Puner Refuge (1,330 meters). The next section, mostly uphill along forest roads and trails, ends at the Malga Mariech summit at an elevation of 1,500 meters. Now begins a long descent toward Capitel di Garda, then continues on the north face of Monte Cesen with ups and downs interspersed with short but steep climbs that require you to draw on your last remaining energy; Malga Doc and the final GPM at 1,300 meters are now in sight, before tackling the long descent along numerous trails—some quite challenging due to the uneven terrain—toward Milies, then a stretch of asphalt allows for a brief rest before the final stretch along the Via dell’Acqua di Stramare toward Segusino. Once there, all that remains is to cover the final 3 kilometers on asphalt to reach Fener again, after more than 100 km and 3,700 meters of accumulated elevation gain.