I start pretty late today, knowing that the road to Meran is going down along the Etsch river. I ride through the apple orchards of the Vinschgau region, making excellent pace on the bike path, parts of it like a cycling highway, parts with gravel surface.
I only pass through Meran, turning north along the Passer river. I have a nice long lunch on the river bank, then start on the 40 km and 2100 m up towards the Timmelsjoch. The bike path follows the river until St. Leonard, where the real ascent begins. It’s a hard long climb and the higher I get, the more the clouds draw in until a brief and light rain starts towards the top. Paired with the icy wind it’s quite cold. But there’s a rainbow!
As I pass through the tunnel near the top, clouds draw in and the pass itself is hidden in thick fog. The way down into Austria is cold and wet and I’m glad when I arrive in Sölden to camp for the night.
