A ring that cannot be missed in the Dolomites by road bike enthusiasts is the one that goes around the Pale di San Martino and which offers three main climbs and which in our case, with departure and arrival in Alleghe, slightly exceeds 100km and has a total elevation gain of over 3000m; therefore suitable for trained amateurs.
The start, although slightly downhill, immediately presents some falsopiani ideal for warming up the leg. After 9 km in Cencenighe the first ramps of the day welcome you, and up to Falcade you enter Passo Valles. This is the first Dolomite pass of the day, which leads to the summit at an altitude of 2050m 18km from Cencenighe.
A steep and narrow descent through a wonderful coniferous forest leads to about half of the Rolle Pass, which from here we climb for about 6km with wonderful views of the western side of the Pale before the beautiful descent to San Martino and again along the valley towards FIera di Primiero.
The Cereda Pass begins here. A tough climb of about 10 km that is unforgiving if you have not fed well or if your condition is poor... After the last and usually windy hairpin bends, you descend to Don di Gosldo for a final effort towards F.lla Aurine.
This last descent into Agordo under the Pale dell'Agner is still spectacular, amidst meadows and wonderful villages. At Agordo, it's back to Alleghe.
A further 400 metres of climbing, but spread over 18 km and in the afternoon with a favourable wind, this is not a problem. The last effort after the two hairpin bends before the barrier of Lago di Alleghe and we close a tour full of satisfaction that is worth the most famous big climbs.
