Stelvio Pass on a bicycle: 100 vertical metres

I want to cycle up Italy’s highest pass, the Stelvio, overcoming 2000 metres in altitude and a distance of 40 km. I’ve been trying to build up the necessary fitness on the home trainer since January. The emphasis is still on ‘trying’, because the first 100 vertical metres were tough …

200 years Stelvio Pass

Before you read, please note: this post was translated with the help of Deepl.
If you find any errors – please have fun first and then give me a hint.

The weather is good to me. When I get home in the evening, it’s warmer outside than inside. Gone are the 30 minutes of boredom on the home trainer and there are no more excuses. Every day is getting longer, I should definitely get outside for my training, into the fresh air, onto the streets of my home town.

Training
for my „Project 2018“

The forty-year-old steel bicycle remains on the home trainer. I switch to a modern bicycle. It’s still struggling, fighting with the narrow cellar door because of the insanely wide handlebars and showing the usual ailment of my vehicles: insufficient tyre pressure. Inflating the tyres by hand becomes a warm-up exercise; it’s interesting how easily a well-seasoned office worker can get out of breath, and in what a short time.

My previously unridden Bionicon Edison Evo sees the light of day in the lukewarm evening. The Evo is a climbing and downhill MTB with an aluminium frame, full suspension and variable suspension geometry, 27.5-inch wheels with fat tyres, 1 x 11 gears and a hydraulic saddle lift. It is relatively heavy.

Goin’
west

I cycle along the cool Adige river. The route is dead straight and flat for four kilometres along the classy South Tyrolean cycle path. The tyres sing on the asphalt, which just a few weeks ago was impassable due to ice, and crush fresh plant seeds that look like caterpillars from afar.

MotorProsa Blog Post 100 Hoehenmeter 4 — … along the Etsch river

I turn left uphill, the small village of Tschengls greets me from the mountain. At the moment, I only have to overcome a paltry 2% gradient, but the barely visible gradient slows me down noticeably and drives heat into my thighs. I have to get through this, I promised myself. The chain moves further and further to the left, but my lungs are still drawing in more air than I would like – and, on this occasion, I also get a hearty breeze of plant protection from the surrounding apple orchards.

The church tower of Tschengls - my destination — The church tower of Tschengls – my destination

In the small forest below Tschengls, which I now cross, things become flatter and more species-appropriate again: the Bionicon, built for carnage in high alpine terrain, rides on gravel for the first time. I’m even allowed to plunge into a pothole – the long-travel suspension snuffs it out unimpressed, and because it feels lower than it looked, I finally realise that the Evo is in uphill mode, i.e. with a high rear end and lowered fork.

High rear,
lowered fork

I can't find more dirt today — I can’t find more dirt today

This is perfect for the following climb into the village, as this Bionicon speciality is supposed to make climbing easier in theory. Motivated, I direct the beast onto the path of pain. But well before the first house at the side of the road, the chain wraps itself around the very large cogwheel at the back, and after a few steps I give up and lean against a tree, out of breath. At least I can recognise the first house in Tschengls in the distance.

100 vertical metres?
No chance

My app reports a frustrating 35 climbed metres, the heart rate monitor a furious pulse of over 160. I’ve never had that on the home trainer before, and it doesn’t feel good at all. Sweat is pouring into my eyes – in my mind’s eye, the number 2000 appears. That’s how many metres in altitude lie ahead of me on the eastern ramp of the Stelvio Pass; overcoming them seems impossible here and now.

After a few deep breaths, I continue my ride anyway, just fast enough to keep my balance. In order not to lose face with the kids playing in the garden of the first house (and certainly getting into the village on their bicycles without any problems), I avoid another break and hope for the slowly approaching flat section on the edge of the village.

The first
Hundred

It actually works. With my last ounce of strength, I conquer the beastly climb, squeeze past two elderly ladies on the village square and, at the top of the bridge over the Tschengls stream, read 100 on the altimeter – yay! Then, relatively satisfied, I lower the rear of the Evo and plunge down again. I accelerate weightlessly up to almost 60 km/h, the coarse tyres sing the song of speed, the wind grips my wet, sweaty ears, drops of sweat run horizontally down my back.

View from Tschengls into the Upper Vinschgau Valley

On the four kilometres to home, I take advantage of the upper Venosta Valley wind, which gives me a noticeable push. After about 50 minutes, 12 kilometres and a little more than 100 metres in altitude, I’m struggling with the narrow cellar door. My legs have been burning all night.

The Route (Link to Kurviger)