Part Two · Dolomites → Alpe d'Huez · 18–23 July 2026

The Ride

A road cycling traverse from the Dolomites to the French Alps — the Stelvio, the Gavia, Lake Como, the Lautaret — finishing at the foot of Alpe d'Huez for the Tour de France.

~236kmRiding distance
~+7,450mTotal ascent
2,758mStelvio summit
2,621mGavia summit
The route

Bolzano → Alpe d'Huez

Bolzano / Bozen → train → Merano → Vinschgau cycle path → Prato allo Stelvio → Stelvio (2,758m) → Bormio [rest] → Gavia (2,621m) → Lake Como [rest] → train → Oulx → Montgenèvre → Briançon → Lautaret → foot of Alpe d'Huez

Each stage below has its own map.

48 hairpins to 2,758m. The Stelvio is the warm-up.
Passo dello Stelvio · Stage 1
Stage by stage

The traverse

Passo dello Stelvio
Ride Stage 1 · Saturday 18 July
Bolzano → Stelvio → Bormio
Distance~96km
Ascent+2,560m
Summit2,758m
Bolzano/train → Merano/Vinschgau path/Prato allo Stelvio/48 hairpins ↑ 2,758m/Bormio ↓
Night Bormio
Start: Bolzano Youth HostelBikes and cycling kit were dropped here on the way out to the run — collect them and roll out.
TrainBolzano → Merano regional. Bikes OK — €7.50. Go early for bike spaces.
Bag transferBormio Driver: Prato → Bormio. +39 328 7654951 · bormiodriver.com
Open on Komoot ↗
Bormio's high passes
Ride Stage 2 · Sunday 19 July · Optional
Bormio — rest or a legend
Night Bormio
Option A — RecoveryBagni di Bormio thermal baths. Eat everything. Sleep.
Option B — Mortirolo loopMortirolo + Gavia out-and-back. 111km total for the brave.
Mortirolo + Gavia loop on Komoot ↗
Lake Como
Ride Stage 3 · Monday 20 July
Bormio → Gavia → Lake Como
Riding~55km
Ascent+1,400m
Summit2,621m
Bormio/Santa Caterina/Passo di Gavia (2,621m)/Ponte di Legno/Edolo / Tirano/train → Lake Como
Nights 1+2 Lake Como (+ rest day Tue 21)
Rest day followsTuesday 21 July at Lake Como. Swim, eat, recover before France.
La Meije · Col du Lautaret
Ride Stage 4 · Wednesday 22 July
Como → Oulx → Briançon
Riding~35km
ClimbMontgenèvre
Summit1,860m
Ferry ↑ Lake Como/train → Oulx/Col de Montgenèvre (1,860m)/Briançon
Night Logis Hôtel de la Chaussée, Briançon
Crossing into FranceA travel-heavy day — ferry, train, then one alpine col into the highest town in France.
Oulx → Briançon
Plan shows the Col de l'Échelle variant — the only public Komoot tour for this Oulx → Briançon leg. Your route crosses the parallel Col de Montgenèvre (the main road); similar distance, both arrive in Briançon.
Open on Komoot ↗
The 21 hairpins of Alpe d'Huez
Ride Stage 5 · Thursday 23 July · Finale
Briançon → foot of Alpe d'Huez
Distance~50km
Ascent~+900m
ClimbLautaret
Briançon/Col du Lautaret (2,058m)/descent ↓/Bourg d'Oisans — foot of Alpe d'Huez/watch the Tour
The finishOver the Lautaret, then descend to Bourg d'Oisans at the base of Alpe d'Huez. We finish at the bottom and watch the Tour de France tackle the 21 hairpins above us.
Our ride · Briançon → Col du Lautaret → Bourg d'Oisans Open on Komoot ↗ The climb we'll watch · Alpe d'Huez's 21 hairpins Open on Komoot ↗
Finish at the bottom. Watch the Tour climb the rest.
Alpe d'Huez · the finale
Logistics

Getting started

  • Bikes on Bolzano → Merano regional train (€7.50)
  • Go early to secure bike spaces

The Stelvio

  • Climb starts at Prato allo Stelvio — 48 hairpins
  • Vinschgau cycle path from Merano to Prato

Bag transfer

  • Bormio Driver: +39 328 7654951
  • bormiodriver.com — book ahead

Alpe d'Huez

  • 21 hairpins, each named after a Tour winner
  • We watch from the base — the Tour rides up