Bormio, July 7th 2015 – 86 km / 53 mi and more than 3,000 meters / 9,800 ft: the Alta Valtellina Bike Marathon on July 26th is a real heart pumping adventure. Starting in Valdidentro, weaving through the Stelvio National Park around Bormio’s picturesque region with historical sites and azure blue lakes, the race is a real eye-catcher. A shorter but still intense 52 km / 32 mi long route is also available as well as a nipper race to encourage little bikers to get on their bikes for the Marathon Kids.
Anyone looking to embark on the Alta Valtellina Bike Marathon (the longest distance, 86 km / 53 mi and 3,000 meters / 9,850 ft altitude difference) will conquer 8 lakes, 4 passes, 12 valleys and 5 peaks! Majority of the route, which takes bikers up to an altitude of 2,350 meters / 7,700 ft, is not paved but well maintained and compact. The start is in Valdidentro in Veltlin and from there it winds past the Fraele Towers to the Cancano lakes and leads on to the Alpisella pass sitting at 2,350 meters / 7,700 ft above sea level. After a grueling climb the reward is a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and valleys – the scenery is guaranteed to motivate everyone to keep pushing! From the peak, a fun descent winds down to the Livigno lake and then back out of the saddle, racers will take on the Trela pass ascent, arriving at 2,300 meters / 7,700ft.
Flow riders will enjoy letting loose on the singletrails, winding up and down from Val Viola to Val Verva. A technical track will take racers up to Alpe Boron and then on to the stunning panoramic views of the Colombano pass. From here, it’s time to let the brakes loose and charge down to the finish at Isolaccia through Veltlin.
The classic 52 km / 32 mi track takes racers through the great Veltlin landscape. Highest point of the round trip is the Alpisella pass. Amazing scenery like the Cancano lakes and Trela pass are part of the track. Passing so many natural wonders will help racers eat up the kilometers! Not to forget the young hopes of mountain biking that take the challenge of the Marathon Kids, a children’s Granfondo for kids between four and twelve on Saturday, July 25th.
On Friday and Saturday before the main event there are two shorter round trips. On Friday, the heart of the Ortler massif is the main attraction of the 36 km / 22 mi long circuit called the trail of the “Great War”. On the following day, bikers can discover the area between Valdidentro and Valdisotto.
The Alta Valtellina Bike Marathon is a great occasion to spend three days discovering the Veltlin region.
You will find further information about Bormio here: bormio.eu or send an email to: info@bormio.eu.