ALWAYS PEDAL ON THE RIDGE: THE HIGH-ALTITUDE CROSSING ALONG PASSO PALADE AND PASSO MENDOLA
From the spectacular green peaks of the Maddalene group, the second stage leads to the steep rocky cliffs of the Mendola ridge. The character of the Tour de Non changes radically; this stage is definitely more alpine and consequently more solitary compared to the previous day. The trails become wilder and exposed, the alpine pastures sporadic and with few resting opportunities, forcing precise planning of the stage and timing.
The section from Senale through Passo Palade up to the heights of the Mendola ridge also presents additional difficulties. The climbs wind through stretches where the trail surface is often barely rideable, forcing dismounting in some places. A keen sense of direction is also useful to spot sometimes faint trails. However, the effort is rewarded with an overdose of panoramic views, a succession of perfect photographic scenes: fairy-tale forests, elegant larch woods, solitary alpine ponds, vertical rocky walls, root formations on the trails and dizzying views into the void that imprint indelibly in the biker’s memory album. Not to mention the trails that always thrill bikers' adrenaline: the extraordinary and technical single trails “Cresta del Macaion” and “Sentiero dei Siori.”
One realises that a grueling ride of just under 40 kilometers can fill an entire day once arriving at the refuge in the evening, when completely exhausted you barely have the strength to devour a delicious local dish with a glass of wine before collapsing into a well-deserved deep sleep.
3 reasons not to miss this stage:
1. The secret ridge single trail from Monte Macaion towards Regole di Malosco
2. The spectacular view from the summit of Monte Macaion, a balcony above Merano and Bolzano
3. An overnight stay at high altitude at the foot of the steep walls of Monte Roen
