A Slap in the Face
Just one pedal stroke after the other
Don’t look up the road
Keep going you’ll get there
Don’t worry about those people going past you
You got this!
I’m not sure how many times these different thoughts passed through my head duing the hour long ascent of the Passo Giau on the Maratona dles Dolomites sportive in July 2019.
I’d heard stories about how hard the Giau was, but I’d rationalised that I’d done hard climbs before.
Col de la Madeleine; Col de la Colombiere; Col du Galibier were all under my belt.
But the Giau – wow.
On the Maratona sportive you arrive at the foot of the Giau having already ridden 87km and climbed about 2,500 vertical metres. At a decent pace as well, probably too fast for me.
And immediately you have to shift to your bottom gear, which for me never felt low enough to deal with the steep early slopes.
There is grumbling all around you in all different languages as people try to find those low gears, and to find the reserves of strength needed to get up and over this classic climb.
Descending the Giau. Photo Credit: Alex Moling
As Daniel Friebe describes it in his book Mountain High, the Giau is “both a beast and a beauty, … [it] has solid claims on both counts; indeed many consider the Giau the most attractive pass in the [dolomites], peaking as it does in a vast and beautiful mountain pasture at the foot of the Nuvolau Alto.”
But back in 2019 I didn’t feel so well disposed to the Giau, my attitude was much more like that of pro rider Ivan Basso who in 2007 said it was like “a slap in the face” after climbing it during that year’s Giro d’Italia.
There are 29 hairpins on the climb, and the reason I kept telling myself to not look up was because every time I did I felt like there will always 29 hairpins still to go, no matter how many I’d already passed.
The weather also came in as we climbed, clouds shrouding the highest turrets above the col.
The temptation to stop got greater and greater as I climbed so, so slowly toward the summit, but I kept telling myself that stopping would only mean it a longer time before I finally made it to the finish.
Still smiling after being slapped in the face
So I kept grinding away, mashing the pedals and little by little the feed station at the top of the climb finally came into view. Then I knew I would make it.
And I was very glad to make it, because the descent off the top is truly special. It is 7.5km down to Pocol and if you like descending, this is one of the best. A good road surface, not too many sharp hairpins, and closed roads. A real dream, and a perfect way to recover and refuel before the final big climb of the Maratona, that of the Passo Falzarego.
Photo Credit: Sportograf
I’ve ridden the Giau a couple of times since, and it was never as bad as that first time. But it was never easy.
We’ve just added a Maratona week to our offer through our sister company Brevet.cc. Go have a look at the site to learn all about the trip, as well as the climbs that make up the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel Sportive. Brevet.cc are one of the few select tour companies through which you can get guaranteed entry to the event on the 6th July 2025. And of course you get all the great benefits you would do from a Borne Cycling tour.
Meaning all you have to do is turn the pedals.
And on the Giau, believe you me, that is hard enough!
What I’ve been listening to while writing
Fontaines DC - Romance
https://open.spotify.com/album/287QQ922OsJYh8aFNGdJG5?si=KOJU5hZGT-mgf2nZ8HJcKg
I saw Fontaines DC at Les Docks earlier this year. I hadn’t been to such a packed concert for a long time. And they really gave the sold out audience a great show. They’re a band from Dublin who have been getting more and more popular over the past few years. This latest album is a great way into the band. My personal favourite off it is coveniently called “Favourite”, a perfect pop song. Top band, give them a listen.