Last year we left off with two Italians on the podium, Gianmarco Garofoli e Mattia Petrucci, at the sides of the winner who came from the other hemisphere: Reuben Thompson, New Zealand. Although short, it was a really great Tour of the Aosta Valley. The rebirth, three stages run with incredible intensity, in superb scenery and at a very high level.
Benedetto 2021
Now there Valdostana Cycling Society launches the 58th edition, scheduled from July 13th to 17th, which will be two more fractions strong. In the post-Covid era, that's no small feat. We're (almost) back to the beginning.
«The Tour of the Aosta Valley – says the patron Richard Moret – returns to being held over five stages and takes on an international connotation thanks to the Saint Gervais stage».
«Doing the race last year, even if only with three stages – Moret confides to us – it was vital. A two-year hiatus would have risked putting a permanent lid on it. Restarting, believe me, was truly wonderful."
We are proud of this decision and are ready to face the next edition with optimism, hoping to leave behind the pandemic-related upheavals that have affected the entire world, both sporting and otherwise. We hope to return to the traditional six stages as soon as possible."
We remain U23
The Giro Ciclostico Internazionale della Valle d'Aosta remains a race reserved for under-23s. Talk of opening it up to older riders has been dismissed, given the number of continental races. Launching young riders is part of its tradition, and the stage locations have been chosen in keeping with this tradition.
«We have examined this matter – Moret continues –. Meanwhile, let's think about the more than 60 teams that have applied to participate. We need to make a quality choice. A choice also tied to our territory. In the Aosta Valley you can climb thousands of meters of altitude in just a few days and the risk is that a large portion of the group will soon be left on the street, This is why we prefer teams that are well-equipped."
«On the subject of extending the age limit beyond 23, I can say that young people are important to us, they are part of the Valle d'Aosta tradition. And then the gap between a 19 year old and a 24-25 year old would be excessive. It's true that even the youngest athletes are going strong today, but let's go back to what we were saying before: the risk is that after a couple of stages, 60-70 athletes will be out of the race. The gap would be too wide."
On the roads of the Tour
"Grand depart" from France: this border crossing is also a tradition. We start and finish in Saint Gervais Mont Blanc. We are therefore in the area Mer de Glace (the splendid glacier) of Mont Blanc, about forty kilometers from Courmayeur, shortly after the tunnel.
"I'm very happy," Moret continues, "to have identified the starting and finishing points. Let me reveal a little more about the route: I can tell you that in this French stage we will travel through most of the roads that the Tour de France will face the day before. And I think this is a great boost for our image! First the Tour and then the Valle d'Aosta, in short..."
Soft start
In the following two days we return to the Valley and go right to the surroundings of Aosta: first to Saint Christopher (departure and arrival) and then right into the city with the Aosta-Aosta. On paper, They might be the least difficult stages, but given the inaugural stage in Pollein last year (won by Verres), better not to go out on a limb. And in fact Moret immediately clarifies.
In the Aosta Valley, as mentioned, we can accumulate many meters of altitude difference in just a few kilometers. Precisely to prevent many people from being quickly stranded, as I mentioned, we thought of a softer approach. Soft in quotation marks obviously. The idea is to concentrate the greatest difference in altitude in the final two stages. Which are the decisive ones. We have many solutions in choosing the various steps and the various paths to take."
Tough ending
And indeed the last two fractions are in line. The fourth goes da Pont Saint Martin in Fontainemore (Coumarial)The fifth enters the kingdom of the giants and goes da Valtournenche to Cervinia. It is on these roads that last summer we witnessed the crazy ride of Gianmarco GarofoliThe rider from the Marche region raised his arms to the sky in the shadow of the Matterhorn after a solo breakaway lasting more than 60 kilometers.
This stage race therefore opens with a giant, or rather, “the Giant”, Mont Blanc, and closes with a giant, the Matterhorn.
«The last two will be the hardest and most spectacular stages – says Moret – The Fontainemore climb is a great climb. You enter the Mont Mars Nature Reserve, a truly beautiful area to discover both by bike and on foot. With the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, we also want to help people discover these lesser-known and more pristine places."
Finally, it should be remembered that All stages will be broadcast live and radio. In short, while we wait for the final route, the Valle d'Aosta promises some great shows, both sporting and nature-related.
