Sella Prasnig

The circular route via Val Riofreddo to Sella Prasnig and back to Tarvisio is a lonely and scenically impressive tour with an inviting trail descent, but an energy-sapping ascent.

Description

The mountain bike tour starts in the picturesque town of Tarvisio, located on the Italian-Austrian border. From there, the route initially takes a relaxed ride southwards on an asphalt road towards Cave del Predil and Lago del Predil. After a while, turn right at Riofreddo and ride into the picturesque Val Riofreddo. The ride through this valley offers spectacular views of the impressive rock formations of the Cima di Riofreddo and is therefore not only a sporting but also a visually impressive experience.

The historic military installations of the Vallo Alpino, which were built during the Second World War, characterize the valley and today offer unique crossing opportunities for cyclists. At the end of the Val Riofreddo, the character of the uphill changes dramatically. What was previously a gentle and easy-to-pedal military path turns into a challenging forest road with a steep incline that requires a lot of strength.

After overcoming this strenuous section, you reach an upper plateau with the ruins of the old material cable car that was used to supply the military facilities. From there, the route rides slightly downhill to Sella Prasnig, the apex of the tour. This is also where the trail descent on the CAI 615 begins.

The descent is characterized by a mixture of difficulty levels S1 and S2 and rides through dense spruce forests. It is somewhat exposed in places and offers a combination of hairpin bends and flowing passages that promise a great riding experience. At the end of the trail, you reach the valley floor south of Valbruna and follow the side roads and an official cycle path, which uses an old railroad line, back to Tarvisio.

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