Stage 7: Lavarone – Riva del Garda

Now we head directly to Riva del Garda, at the end of a week full of surprises, variety, impressions and exertion for our legs. But even on the ‘almost’ direct route to Lake Garda, there are still 1,800 metres to climb – spread over a distance of around 80 kilometres. Heading north towards Lake Garda, we first encounter the Passo del Sommo again, which today is actually a real 250-metre-high mountain pass from Carbonare to Folgaria. The main road in the Rio Cavallo valley now continues directly downwards to Calliano at the bottom of the Adige Valley. But today it is only ‘almost’ the direct route. We now deviate from the main road and climb another 100 metres on the southern side of the valley on the four kilometres to Serrada. Serrada is located on a saddle to the neighbouring valley. You could now use this pass and descend to Rovereto.

However, we do not change valleys but continue to follow the Rio Cavallo towards the Adige Valley. From Serrada, a winding road leads back down to the valley floor via the small village of Guardia, where it rejoins the main road from Folgaria after about 8 kilometres. But it is only after another 6 racy kilometres on this main road that we reach the Adige Valley floor. And after a narrow passage through the historic streets of Calliano, things calm down a bit. It's not really a lie to say it's the direct route. The main road that leads from Rovereto to Riva del Garda in the valley is absolutely impossible for a cycling event like the Transalp and even on your own bike it's pure stress in the weekend rush hour traffic. So now there is no other option but to ride over the mountain, which, to be honest, is much nicer anyway. After a short breather in the valley, the climb begins in Aldeno, past the idyllic Lago di Cei and continuing up to the Passo Bordala at an altitude of 1,251 metres. It is 1,100 metres of elevation gain from the valley to the top. So this last day also has an decent mountain test in store.

However, the pass does not yet mark the transition to the Sarca Valley and Lake Garda. This pass first leads into the Val di Gresta, a high valley characterised by fields and farmland, which lies in front of Lake Garda. The short, winding descent on the narrow pass road takes us first to Ronzo-Chienis and only now turns off to the last pass of this Transalp, the Passo Santa Barbara, which still rises 1,000 metres above Lake Garda. A narrow road winds its way through the forest down to Bolognano. Now it's just a few flat kilometres to the harbour of Riva del Garda, the destination of this Transalp. And the perfect place to celebrate the finale of the Transalp together.