recap // day 4
I wake up at 5:30 am in a bus stop. It’s still super cold even though it’s already daylight. I quickly pack up my things and head down into the valley. At the first bakery, I have a hot coffee and lots of sweets. The baker has already noticed that a race is passing by, as many riders have chosen this route. It’s a popular alternative to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, with a more manageable elevation gain.
My knees are really painful in the morning when my legs are still cold. On top of that, I’ve got the start of a cold. Am I getting sick? After last night, I wouldn’t be surprised. I grab some Ricola Kräuterzuckerli and a cup of tea at a petrol station and head for the Katschberg, a brutally steep pass with sections of over 20%. Even with all the pain, I’m looking forward to the day. The weather’s perfect, and if all goes well, I’ll make it through parcours 1 to checkpoint 1 today.
I’m in a good mood as I ride along great cycle paths through Italy towards the Mangart Pass. The climb is nice and steady and mostly shady. That’s great because it’s really hot now. At the top, I am rewarded with a breathtaking view over the Slovenian Alps. After 1000 meters of climbing in one go, I can’t manage to say a straight sentence into the Lost Dot Microphone for the TCR podcast.
I quickly eat a few Mentos, drink a Coke and put on my rain jacket. Then it’s time to leave the summit. @valentinrappfilm films during the high-speed descent with just one hand on the handlebars for the ZDF documentary and overtook me anyway. I still don’t know how he did it. I think he’s related to Tom Pidcock. The descent seems to take forever, but it’s great fun. After I ride through the stunning Soča Valley, a place that feels familiar to me from past vacations. I stock up at a local shop and prepare for the third pass of the day. Today I’m really gaining altitude.
I cycle steadily up the Vrsic Pass at sunset and I notice that my knee hurts less on the climbs than on flat sections, which gives me hope for the coming days. At the top of the pass, I collect my first stamp at a mountain hut. Unfortunately, it was already fully booked, otherwise I would have liked to spend the night there. So, I begin the descent into the valley again. It looks like another night without a hotel.
I don't let this get me down and ride into the night on perfect cycle paths through eastern Slovenia. I know from my route planning that it's super beautiful all around me. Unfortunately, I can't see any of it. I try using Google Maps to find cosy bus stops to sleep in, but it’s not easy and takes up time. By 1:00 am, I finally find a church with a covered area. As I close my eyes, I dream of a proper hotel bed.
distance // 245 km
elevation // 3.909 m
moving time // 13:30 h
break time // 3:54 h
sleep duration night before // 4:00 h
location // bivouac
highlight // Passo Mangart
problems // none
The entire route is compiled in a collection on Komoot. You can also find the individual stages of the tour on Strava!
Komoot: Joschka Völkel Strava: Joschka Völkel Instagram: @joschka_voelkel
by Reasonable-Cup-5324