The slowness of the Italian advance to secure Cortina d'Ampezzo allowed the Wustruans to fortify and effectively seal off the routes to the north towards the Puster Valley. Unable to make George's here the Italians turned their attention westwards to the Falzarego Pass between the Sass de Stria and the Cinque Torri. If they could take this and then gain control of the Col di Lana, they could dominate the eastern Tyrolean highlands and prepare to attack up the Val Badia towards Bruneck.: