Tutti Dolomiti Stage 6

Cortina d’Ampezzo to Misurina

Strava: 15.29 km, 733m, 1:21, 56 shifts

We woke up to dismal looking weather, drizzly rain, cold, low clouds and a poor forecast. During breakfast a new plan was announced for the day: leave later at 10am and ride up to tonight’s hotel in Misurina, do the Tre Cime climb in the late afternoon when the weather improves. We left in cold rainy conditions but I was not cold climbing up and up to the Passo Tre Croci, another pass included in the Giro d’Italia from time to time. There was a coffee shop at the pass and some of us stayed over an hour, drying out and relaxing.

We geared up for the short, cold descent to Misurina at a beautiful lake. The rain was light and soup was being prepared lakeside. While Wijnand cooked, we went inside the hotel and had drinks and warmed up. Then we checked in and then headed out to have a great lunch with hot soup, under some tents. When I went back in the hotel, Mike was getting ready to do the Tre Cime climb but I decided to skip it – I had done it in nice conditions before and just could not be bothered. A large number of people opted out as well.

I gave my bike some love (cleaning), chatted over beers, read, had a short nap, then it was dinner time. We all converged in the beautiful dining room for another gigantic Italian dinner. I laughed at myself when I made the exact same mistake as the other night: I thought the buffet was the whole dinner so I filled a plate massively, then found there were two more full courses to follow. This buffet was the best, so much variety, delicious. Then I had pumpkin risotto and passed on the second course. For each table of six people, two bottles of wine were provided, plus infinite water. Maybe the best part of the whole dinner was the view out the window, just amazing. And strawberry cheesecake for dessert.

It was a nice day other than the weather, light on riding. But we’ll make up for that tomorrow…