Transardinia Day 3.
51 kilometers from Oliena to Orgosolo.
|
Starting point
|
km |
hours |
total ascent |
total descent |
maximum height |
paved roads |
dirt roads |
double track |
single track |
cyclability |
|
Oliena |
51 |
10 |
1660 |
1030 |
1000 |
10 |
20 |
10 |
11 |
95% |
This is the toughest day, but it's also the best one. The ascent along the rocky singletracks, built over Supramonte sheer cliff, seems neverending, but once you have conquered the peak of Punta Solitta, the amazing view over the valley pays you back. Once you have gotten past the Supramonte border, you can feel a sense of wild inhospitality, a possessive fascination that makes you wiling to accept the challenge in an enviroment of such harsh beauty.
So we challenge the legendary Supramonte riding it on "state of the art" mountain bikes, pushed to their limits. The singletrack trail, carved on sharp limestone rock, gets increasingly technical and, sometimes it is just safer to get off the bike and walk a few meters, taking your time to take a peek at the huge crater of Su Suercone or to visit ancient folds like Cuile Pistoccu, Taletto and Ata Bianca. At the end of an hairy singletrack, we reach the vast carsic plateau called Campu Donanìgoro, the shepherds of the nearby villages fought for centuries for these good pastures. Here, if you are silent enough there are good chances to admire the local wildlife, like, eagles, wild boars and muflons.
We keep riding our mountain bikes on the technical trail, getting a little more confident then before, admiring the abyss of the canyon of Su Gorroppu, the white limestone of Nuraghe Mereu and crossing places with curious names: Campu su Mudrecu, Scandalittu, Ianna Filae. We finish this ride with an enjoyable downhill that cuts across the woods of Funtana Bona forest . At the "Ai monti del Gennargentu Hotel" , The owner, Maria Giovanna alleviates the day's suffering with the best "barbagia" traditional cuisine. After dinner there's still some time left for a little chat by the fireplace, before hitting the bed.
It's better to maximize rest, Transardinia doesn't give you long breaks: tomorrow the high peaks of Gennargentu expect us. |
