Bassano Part I – Switchback heaven in Veneto

There are not a lot of moments when you actually feel like a pro-rider in a pro-tour race peloton but likely for us, this trip to Veneto region in Italy gave us a lot of moments of that feeling. Not because of fans on the road or groups of riders. But because of the typical switchbacks, the Giro-like weather and picturesque Italian towns.

We set the base camp in Bassano. Rather small town with numerous possibilities for long rides and nice climbs. Every time when we are in a cycling vacation, and no matter where we ride, the days start always the same: with a good cup of coffee.

First day, first climb. Monte Grappa. The climb starts right from the town. Soon you forget to count, but then you are thinking “This should be the15th”. There are 28 switchbacks on the way up, so this makes it one of the most special climbs, both in Europe and in our collection of peaks we climbed so far.

But this was not all Veneto has in mind for us. To reach the peak was our plan. But sometimes you can plan it, spend hours trying to achieve it and then, in a minute, it is gone. We reached 1000m altitude to find a surprise. Snow in the beginning of the April. “At least we could really feel like riding on Giro”, we thought. At Giro, you start at 20 degrees and during the ride you experience almost zero degrees, exactly like here.

But not only winter can get you freezing here. You can get goosebumps from the downhills, very easily too. Be prepared for the switchbacks. Be focused on the road though, this will be kind of hard, with all the views around you. They are pretty stunning. Be ready for the immense quiet that only you will be breaking when competing against the wind.

Hills are not easy and they are not meant to be. They reward you with a good training, and also they give the opportunity to enjoy the city. Get a sip of local architecture, culture…

...and food. Though there was everywhere amazing pizza and pasta, this time our recovery food was a beet, beet, beet.

Bassano and the whole region is perfect. It was our second time there, but not the last one, for sure. On the way back home, we stopped also at our friends, where we stayed last year and had a coffee with them. They, as any other warm Venetian, invite you to come in and enjoy. How could we not accept his invitation? :)