Cycling Dolomiti Friulane: Colli Asolani

Always wanted to visit Asolo but never have gotten round to it. So I took advantage of the clear cold weather today for a giro of Colli Asolani and the WW I battlefield Il Montello. I drove to Nervesa della Battiglia on the Piave River and started toward Il Montello. On impulse I turned right at the base of the climb onto the rolling panoramic road along Il Montello's northern flank. This is one of the prettiest, gentlest bike rides anywhere.

The road ends at Crocetta del Montello, where I asked some surveyors how to reach Cornuda. There begins the northern route through Colli Asolani, a rolling mix of hills and valleys covered with vineyards. Reminded me of Refrontolo. Eventually I reached the north side of Asolo and climbed up.

Asolo is a gorgeous hill town. I only saw a fraction of it and definitely will be going back. I descended to the south, which is a much wider smoother road. This main road continues through Maser to Crocetta del Montello, where I searched for the start of the dorsale road. Instead I found Prese XX, which climbs over the western end of the "hump" and comes back down to the plain on the other side. Luckily though, it joined the dorsale (almost in Montebelluna) and I started climbing. This dorsale is a fun ride, 15 km or so of continuous saliscendi, with 20 presi, military supply roads like ribs of a backbone, descending at intervals steeply to north and south. Shortly before Nervesa I inadvertently took one of these presi southward down to Giavera, where I joined the south-side perimeter road, meandering through flat fields and little towns. Back in Nervesa I found the car by the Piave and headed home. Must return soon.