Glurns to Meran is a long stretch. I rode it back in 2021 was it? I only recall two spots with any gravel. One I have already found a route around. The other passes right along the river through a nature preserve. I don't recall it being as bad as you're describing. Are you sure you were on the signed Radweg? It's the stretch between Laas and Goeflan. I don't want to be on the main road and the only other road around goes 750ft up over 1.6 miles. I'd rather get out and push my velomobile. I'll have come up the Reschen pass earlier in the day. Good warning to have though. It looks like there's been a lot of rain and more forecasted, so I guess that stretch could be highly unpleasant. I'll give it some more thought.

Hi Ben - You’ve probably already figured this out, but based on our experience in 2022, I would try to avoid the stretch of bike path between Glurns and Meran. My memory is a bit hazy at this point, but I remember it as being very much a “trail”. The surfaces were difficult (think dirt and mud) and the bridge entrances sat pretty high up over the trail. So there were large steps up to each bridge and again down off the bridge. We broke a rear hub on our tandem in there. At least until Göflan, I’d stay on the road to preserve your velomobile. HTH

Wow, that is ambitious! Good luck. Can’t wait to follow along. I think you’re right about northern Italy though - some of those long paved bike paths should work out great for you.