No Legs Left, But the Dolomites Said Go! Tour De Pasta Stage 4

4th July 2025 – Canazei, Trentino-Alto Adige. After several demanding days in the saddle, I set off early once again from Canazei with ambitious plans to conquer more iconic climbs in the Dolomiti. But from the very first pedal strokes up Passo Pordoi, I could feel that my legs weren't fully recovered.

The climb to Pordoi is as beautiful as it is demanding—countless hairpins cut across steep alpine meadows with panoramic views of the Sella Group. Yet the unusually cold morning made it hard to warm up, and fatigue from previous rides quickly took its toll.

Reaching the summit of Passo Pordoi (2,239 m) was still a rewarding milestone. It’s one of the most legendary climbs in Italian cycling, featured many times in the Giro d’Italia, and home to a monument dedicated to Fausto Coppi, one of Italy’s greatest cycling icons.

Instead of pushing further and risking burnout, I made the wise choice to scale things back. I still took on Passo Sella (2,218 m) to complete a loop, enjoying its stunning backdrop of jagged limestone peaks, but this time at a slower, more reflective pace.

With virtually no traffic in the early morning, the descent back to Canazei was peaceful and invigorating—proof that sometimes the best rides are the ones where you listen to your body and appreciate the moment rather than chasing distance.

📍 About the Route:

Passo Pordoi links the Fassa and Fodom valleys and offers sweeping views of the Marmolada Glacier.

Passo Sella connects Val di Fassa with Val Gardena and lies beneath the iconic Sella Towers.

Canazei is a top cycling base nestled in the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its geological and cultural richness.

🍝 Tour De Pasta 2025
This ride is Stage 4 of my self-made summer cycling project: Tour De Pasta — 10 iconic stages across Italy’s most legendary roads.
📺 Watch the full playlist here:
   • Tour De Pasta 2025  

Stages of Tour De Pasta 2025
✅ Stage 1 – Cittadella
✅ Stage 2 –    • Climbing Cima Grappa to the War Memorial -...  
✅ Stage 3 –    • The Magic of the Dolomites - Clockwise Sel...  
✅ Stage 4 –    • No Legs Left, But the Dolomites Said Go! T...  
✅ Stage 5 –    • Sellaronda Chaos Before the Maratona! Tour...  
✅ Stage 6 –    • Brutal Dolomites Climb - Passo Fedaia & Po...  
✅ Stage 7 –    • Climbing Gavia Twice - Epic No-Traffic Day...  
✅ Stage 8 –    • I Raced Myself Up the Mortirolo from Mazzo...  
✅ Stage 9 – Le Motte (Bormio)
✅ Stage 10 –    • New Personal Best on Stelvio! Re Stelvio M...  

Strava route:   / strava  

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📸 Instagram:   / when_in_doubt_cycle  
📊 Strava:   / strava  
▶️ YouTube Channel:    / @paolotagliaferri  

If you're a cyclist planning to ride the Dolomites—or just a fan of mountain roads—this video offers real-world insight into what it's like to tackle these giants when you're not at your strongest. Sometimes, the ride you don’t finish is just as memorable.

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0:00 - Start in Canazei
16:04 - Passo Pordoi
30:07 - Ascending to Passo Sella
41:09 - Passo Sella