The Giro d'Italia in Cogne opens the door to a great summer of cycling

In Cogne there is longing for the Giro, for summer, holidays and cyclingThe stage on Sunday, May 22nd will ring like a giant bell, ushering in the summer season.

«A stage that needs to be managed well» he explains Paolo Mei, speaker of the Giro and proudly “cognein” what are the names of the inhabitants of the town that is the gateway to the Gran Paradiso Park.

Prepared from afar

To best prepare yourself, the stage committee started from afar, displaying the Endless Trophy already during the Christmas holidays, in front of the Town Hall illuminated in pink (opening photo). 

From January, on the channels Social media coordinator e Facebook of the Municipality have been published The Pink Pills, posts that marked the countdown with anecdotes and curiosities related to cycling and the Aosta ValleyThe highlight, however, will take place over the weekend.

The arrival of the stage will be accompanied by a pump track and a sport climbing wall, set up by the Alpine Corps in the town squareFood and wine stalls and stands from various local sponsors.

It will take place on Saturday afternoon the Pedala Aspettando il Giro 2022 cycling rally, starting from Pont Suaz and arriving in Cogne with timing on the uphill section from Aymavilles to Cogne. Following, Pink Night with the presence of the Gran San Bernardo Beers who for the occasion have created a special commemorative can.

The pink weekend in Cogne will then extend for the entire following week with activities that will continue until May 29th through MTB or E-MTB accompaniments on the most suggestive routes of the Valley, inauguration of the new MTB track of Lillaz, screening of the film Wonderful Loosers and finally the twenty-second edition of the historic Granfondo Granparadiso Bike and its food and wine ride.

Three real climbs

The stage, then. "The first climb after the start from Rivarolo," explains Paolo Mei, "will be Pila, from the toughest side of Charvensod. You don't get to the top, you go down to the Antenna, as we call it in the Valley, then you descend onto Gressan and it will be a technical descent full of curves.

«The next climb of Verrogne has very steep slopes. It's the Strada dei Salassi, entirely exposed to the sun., which the Giro has already tackled and is also very popular with amateurs. After a challenging first section, it climbs steps and anticipates a narrow and technical descent that could inspire some attacks».

«And then there is the final climb – continues Mei – which begins one kilometer before Aymaville Castle and can be divided into two partsThe first, more challenging, has gradients of up to 12 percent. Then, from the Ozein junction, it becomes gentler. We'll change sides of the valley, climbing 600 meters in 15 kilometers. We'll be going at over 30 miles an hour.The last stretch where you can try to break away is inside Moline, with 3 km to go, on a 5-6 percent ramp. The arrival is 4 kilometers after the center of Cogne, in Lillaz, a summer and winter destination for its waterfalls.. For climbing in winter, for cooling off in summer. For the winner, Mont Blanc will be the exceptional backdrop.».

Samples and flavors

Cogne means more mountain biking than road, but in both cases it offers exceptional colours and flavours.He arrived in these parts the 1985 Giro d'Italia, who applauded Andy Hampsten in Valnontey, in Val di Cogne. Then the Giro delle Regioni twiceIn 1998, Ruggero Marzoli won wearing the Colpack jersey, on the finish line in Cogne Centro, which on Saturday will award the intermediate sprint. The following year it was the turn of to the Frenchman Fedrigo, who preceded Ivan Basso in the U23 rainbow jersey upon arrival in GimillanThen in 2008, victory by the Ukrainian Anatoliy Pakhtusov and last year by the German Georg Steinhauser in Valnontey: both stages of the Tour of the Aosta Valley.

«In addition to cycling – continues Mei, a passionate ambassador of his country – there are other sports such as ultra-trail, given that the Tor de Geants passes through Cogne, and cross-country skiing, which in February 2019 saw a memorable edition of the World Cup, with Chicco Pellegrino and De Fabiani, both from the Aosta Valley, first and second. But among the major events, we also remember the mass of August 21, 1994, celebrated by Pope John Paul II, who used to go on holiday to Le Comb, on the meadow of Sant'Orso».

The legacy of the mines

Confirming the fact that Cogne is a paradise for bikers, il Consortium of Tourist Operators of the Cogne Valley has mapped seven itineraries, downloadable atspecial link.

These are paths that they wind through the Gran Paradiso Park (the only 4.000m entirely on Italian soil): from the gentlest to the more challenging ones. Among these, the two linked to the Mines stand out.

The first climbs from Cogne, passes the Mining Museum near the miners' village, reaches Gimillan, and from there, reaches Alpe Tsavanis at 1.870 meters. The second rediscovers Cogne's origins, reaching Alpe Taveronna and then on to at the Colonna complex, at an altitude of 2.400 metres, where you can admire the buildings of the ancient magnetite mine.

«The Colonna Mines – explains Paolo Mei – They were closed in 1979 and regulated the country's economy».

The history of magnetite mining would seem to be dating back to the times of the Salassi and the RomansThe mines are a fine testament to what was for many years one of the main sources of income for the inhabitants. Even today, the remains of the cableways for transporting materials, the cableway for passengers that ran from Cogne to Colonna and numerous buildings are clearly visible.. The mine workers could in fact use the canteen, the library and even a cinema.

Do you understand everything? See you in Cogne on May 22ndThe Giro will experience one of its crucial days, you can't miss it. Then it will be time for summer and cycling holidays.