Wow -- lots of good ideas.
I'll respond to only one right now.

sergio wrote
A beautiful loop from Castelrotto to Alpe di Siusi and down
to Santa Cristina via Monte Pana: DO IT!

Yes it's beautiful, and Yes Sharon + I did it two or three years ago.
It includes a long steep section on dirt-gravel roads, and by doing it in
the direction you describe you take the dirt in the downhill direction
(which I think is better) -- though navigating thru the dirt roads is just a
bit tricky.

Ken