BORMIO – Arriving from the bottom of Valtellina, you notice that the roads around Bormio are bustling. Tourism is active and brings many people to the town at the foot of the Stelvio PassThe bars and squares are filled with people and tourists of all kinds: some are wearing hiking boots, others are leaning their bikes against the wall, tired from pedaling. Not only that, the streets are filled with families and children. Activities in Bormio are buzzing and summer invites you to get lost in these cool areas., far from the scorching city.
Cycling and tourism
Cycling in these parts thrives on history and heroic deeds. Just look up at the paved slopes of the Stelvio Pass. to imagine the riders who have climbed up there over the decadesBut it's not just the road; the nature around Bormio offers many green spaces to explore, and the great thing is that you can do it in any way you like. MTB, gravel, and the latest arrival: e-bikes, appreciated by many. The advent of pedal assistance has brought the fatigue of cycling closer to everyone's limits., increasing the fun.
«Certainly the cycling issue – says Veronica Mazzola, marketing director of the Bormio area – in our area it has become very important in recent yearsIt helped us to have an increase in tourists from all over Europe, indeed I would say from all over the world. We now have people coming from Australia and America to climb the most famous climbs in our Valtellina: Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo."
Not just professionalism
The light of professionalism can be a promoter for the territory, but we must ensure that this light does not go out. The initiatives must aim to keep the territory active even away from major events.
"The Tour of Italy Mazzola continues: "When it passes through our area, it's an important driving force and an opportunity to raise awareness of our reality. But our work doesn't stop there. we must then be good at finding suitable structures when tourists decide to come and spend their holidays with us. The Belgian market is an example of how professional cycling is an important sponsor. Just think that Since De Gent's victory in 2012, the influx of tourists from this country has increased significantly.It's important for us not to focus everything on competitive events alone. Another important piece is the withdrawals like this one of the Eolo-Kometa teamThe riders and staff stay with us for about ten days, finding everything they need for proper training."
The days dedicated
One way to ensure everyone can enjoy the beauty of these streets is to close them to traffic. The passion for cycling has grown a lot in recent times and this led to thinking about dedicated days.
«From the post-Covid period – concludes Mazzola – we have had a significant increase in people on our streets, This is also thanks to the fact that cycling has become increasingly accessible to everyone. Therefore, we strive to promote our climbs not only for professionals but also for amateurs and families. From this point of view, the closures made to vehicular traffic with the initiatives of are important Enjoy Stelvio ValtellinaThe last one, a few days ago, involved the Gavia Pass. This allows you to enjoy the beauty of the climb without the hassle of traffic, also bringing families and children closer together, who can pedal safely.
The mayor speaks
The presentation of the Eolo-Kometa team then opened with the words of the mayor of Bormio: Silvia Cavazzi (at the beginning between Pedranzini and Ivan Basso).
«Those that are a must for the life of a professional cyclist – said Cavazzi – can, Indeed, they must become an opportunity to open the area to all cycling enthusiasts.The number of cycling tourists has equaled that of skiers in the winter. This has ensured that Bormio remains a lively town year-round. There are also companies linked to the territory, such as Kometa, sponsor of the teamThese unions can only make us proud. Furthermore, they make us understand how everything is connected."
