Starting the day in Selva di Cadore and having Passo Giau "for breakfast" was really challenging. I couldn't miss the iconic pass but then I went back for a couple of kilometres in order to follow a really steep but incredible off-road track that lead me to Rifugio Averau and then Rifugio Scoiattoli, among the stunning Cinque Torri. Being at the heart of the Dolomites and riding through those paths made me feel incredibly lucky, I've always had those special places relatively close to me but it took me until now to cross them... looking meticulously for alternative paths. I had a coffee in Cortina d'Ampezzo and rode passo Tre Croci straight after.

What followed was a long and fun off-road downhill to Auronzo and then the stunning Val Visdende, where I finally approached Forcella Dignas, very near the Austrian border. After a lot of fun and hundreds of pictures, I finally met Max. Over a (warm) beer, we exchanged all the thoughts and feelings about our epic journeys.

Great stage 💪🏻🍺