Livigno 1816: the Granfondo Alé marks the start of the summer cycling season

The first symbolic pedal stroke was made by the 850 cyclists who took on the Granfondo Alé on Saturday 27 June, conquering, one after the other, six mountain passes at altitudes above 2,000 metres – Forcola, Bernina, Fourn, Umbrail, Foscagno and Eira – to reach the iconic finish line at Mottolino, the setting for Tadej Pogacar’s triumph at the 2024 Giro d’Italia. Livigno, however, expects to see that number multiply throughout the summer season, which will attract around 1,816 Bike Zone enthusiasts from all over the world and make cycling the main driver of tourism during this period for the Alta Valtellina resort.

Livigno is not, in fact, merely a destination to reach and visit, but represents a veritable ecosystem at the cyclist’s disposal, designed to combine performance, the local landscape and hospitality. The 1816 Bike Zone – whose very name evokes the altitude and thus one of the valley’s main attractions – spans a vast network of over 3,200 kilometres of marked trails, offering routes to suit all tastes: enduro, cross-country, downhill, e-bike and, of course, road cycling.

For adrenaline junkies and mountain bikers, the area is divided into three main zones: the Mottolino Bike Park is a European benchmark for downhill enthusiasts, thanks to its 45 kilometres of technical trails, jump areas, north shore sections in the woods and gradients reaching as high as 32 per cent. Carosello 3000 & Sitas Mountain Park, on the other hand, is the realm of flow riding, with over 70 km of trail combinations and routes enhanced by berms and parabolic bends designed to maintain a continuous rhythm, allowing you to ride from the summit down to the village almost without touching the brakes. Natural, well-maintained trails, such as the technical The Bomb or the scenic Black Hill, which take cyclists up to a maximum altitude of 2,800 metres, are a paradise for Enduro and All-Mountain.

For those who prefer tarmac, Livigno is the ideal starting point for tackling a long series of legendary Alpine passes: as well as those already covered by the Granfondo Alé, the Stelvio, Gavia, Mortirolo and Maloja are all within cycling reach. And along the roads, it’s not uncommon to come across World Tour professionals, who specifically choose the resort for their high-altitude training.

Before setting off for the Tour de France, Nico Denz and Jay Hindley led the way for the entire Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe Team, which has chosen Livigno as its Official Altitude Training Destination in preparation for the Vuelta. Between late August and early September, Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz – who have also just returned from the Grand Boucle – will arrive in preparation for the World Championships in Montreal.