During one of the many classic outings of the members of Cyclo Marbozien, an idea was launched by one of them, as a challenge: “What if we did Léman – Adriatique?” The Swiss and Italian Alps are known to be more difficult because they are steeper than the French part of the Alpine massif. In addition, the landscapes of the Dolomites are truly breathtaking.
1,200 kilometers
Over the next few weeks, Didier refined the route and the challenge turned into Marboz-Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. On Sunday, June 30, five members of Cyclo Marbozien (Didier, Michel, Alain, Jean-Claude and Philippe) set off with the encouragement of the other members of the club. The goal? To reach the Slovenian capital in eleven stages, or nearly 1,200 kilometers, 21,000 meters of elevation gain and around thirty passes that were more or less difficult to climb. For the purpose of provision, a vehicle would follow the intrepid riders; each taking the wheel in turn, depending on the form of the day.
Legendary passes
“Good physical condition and an unwavering mentality allowed us to climb legendary passes such as the Stelvio, which peaks at 2,758 metres above sea level, or the San Bernardino,” explains Philippe.
And to add: “We also had to modify and adapt the routes following the bad weather of the previous week, the Swiss Alps having not been spared. The crossing of the Dolomites will remain one of our best memories. It was without a hitch and without major incidents (only one puncture) that we arrived in Ljubljana on Wednesday July 10. The return by vehicle took place the next day. The organization was perfect, the weather more than favorable, the landscapes magnificent, we are not about to forget these moments spent together.” Waiting for a new challenge in 2025?
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