Piancavallo-Cansiglio

A cool and cloudy July day, perfect for a big climb.   I rode Fedaia down to Aviano and turned upward toward Piancavallo.  At the finish I turned onto the road for Sauc and then Valle Friz.
This is the best part of the ride: the Panaramica Piancavallo-Cansiglio, a few miles of curvy saliscendi atop the front range of Friulian Dolomiti.

Too quickly it ends at the turn off at Candaglia.  This is a rough dirt road which slows you to a snail’s pace on a road bike.  You cross into the Cansiglio, rejoining rough pavement at Casa Forestale, where a large group of kids were enjoying an outing.  After a brief steep descent you reach the second best segment of the ride: the gravel road to Paradise and La Crosetta.  It has some rough bits but you can generally go as fast as you dare on roadbike tires.  Spectacular setting among the big trees and karst formations.

At La Crosetta you begin the long twisty descent to Palu and Via Pedemontane.  I had been freezing from Candaglia to Sarone.  Must remember to carry legwarmers in July from now on.

Headland above Val Grande

Dolina between Piancavallo and Il Cansiglio

Sheep grazing Col della Gallina

The road to Paradise

19 km averaging 8%