Hang-gliding and paragliding, triumphs and challenges of the 2010 World Cup 2011
Another good year for the world of free flight in hang gliding and paragliding Italian drivers are confirmed to international summits of the two specialties. The year 2010 closes with double gold at the European Championships for paragliding in Austria, where Luca Donini, Molveno (Trento) and the Azzurri win individual and team titles for the second time in a few years. In 2009 the world had returned to Mexico with the silver medal. Last summer in Umbria has won the national hang gliding championships pre-World and European ones in Spain, in 2009 after winning the world team titles and individual with the Trentino Alex Ploner. Italy is in first place in the world rankings. The next August we go back in the game this time as organizers, since 18.a edition of the World Championships will hang in the background the beautiful scenery of the Monte Cucco at Seal (Perugia) and the medieval towns of Umbria pilots who fly over the world, still remains the most spectacular views from above on board these vehicles without engine, using the action of the sun on the slopes and the ascending currents they produce, they can travel hundreds of miles. The Monte Cucco, thanks to the fortunate position in relation to the wind and the reliefs, is historically one of the most popular places for free flight, attended by hundreds of pilots, which color the sky with colorful wings. From there the race tracks trespassing nearby Marche, towards the Adriatic sea. If the best scale the heights of the charts, the federation remains the overriding task of organizing thousands of pilots gathered in 150 associations, and training is provided by 50 schools that lead the student to the obtaining of VDS (leisure flying and sports), required by law and the patent improperly. In practice, the passport to go to heaven.
Further information and useful contacts:
for more information on hang gliding world championships contact Flavio Tebaldi - flavio.tebaldi @ alice.it - \u200b\u200bhttp://www.flafly.net - Official site: http://www . cucco2011.org
for more information on national paragliding contact Alberto Castagna - castagna@telemako.it
After 12 years in July of next year, at Seal (Perugia), in the splendid setting of the Monte Cucco, l ' Italy will host the World Championship of hang gliding with an expected participation of 150 riders representing 30 nations. side appreciated the initiatives taken for the next 27 to 28 November, at the old mill Costacciaro (Perugia), the association of operators of the Monte Cucco Park, the Italian Farmers Confederation of Umbria, the municipalities of Costacciaro Seal, Gualdo Tadino, Gubbio, and Chip and Pascelupo Moat Vico: to promote a sporting event using local products and highlighting the best local and artisanal food and wine production. The program includes a tasting of the basket of products from around the Gubbio - Gualdese, the presentation of the new oil, and more. In an article published on the site www.ciaumbria.it is called the development "a strong commitment to promote healthier products, genuine and non-GM, an action for the exploitation of territories and of the extraordinary role played by host and guest farmers. "The idea came from the wine as a tribute to all glider pilots to select premondiali occurred last summer and all the tourists who visited the Park of Monte Cucco. Today you want to embrace a larger territory to grow a spirit of cooperation that goes beyond the boundaries of the district and become a showcase for the entire region of Umbria.
For more information about this initiative:
Francesca Fantozzi - president of the incumbents of the Monte Cucco Park - presidenza@assopmontecucco.it - www.assopmontecucco.it
After a race marked by some accident and the wrong strategy, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix goes to the Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel. The German, just 23 years old, showing a double record, becoming the world champion of Formula 1 at an early age. a serious strategic error has instead brought on the flop of the Red and driver Fernando Alonso, who also arrived in Abu Dhabi as dangerous as ever, strong results in recent weeks. At the end of the race today, the Ferrari has placed only in seventh place with 252 points, and had barely digested the second position in the final classifca. Alongside the Red Bull driver, Sebastian Vettel, there are the pilots of the British McLaren-Mercedes Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Behind them, the driver of the Mercedes Rosberg and Kubica GP Petrov and the Renault team. In the standings, after the pilot of the Red Alonso, Webber of Red Bull, Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) and an unlucky Felipe Massa.
Some peaks of high temperature does not touch only August. The long-awaited derby with Inter-Milan, scheduled for 20:45 this evening at the San Siro stadium, start your engines and fire the hearts of fans and supporters.
In football, you know, every derby is a slice of history that will guard those who love this sport in their scrapbook. Seen in this way, we understand better why the derby this evening and discussed the long-awaited.
increasing the focus, then, that this is a race to head. " A clash, in fact, two teams with the performance Tonight we play the top spot in the standings. AC Milan is first to 23 points, Inter is at 20 the fourth. But between these two simple figures are creeping doubts, concerns and hopes for the match tonight.
AC Milan can not count on Pippo Inzaghi knocked out for the next six months from injury to the cruciate ligament, and Pato, out for six weeks. It remains then to evaluate the presence of Ronaldinho in the field. But it is certain that Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Seedorf are elettizzati enough to give the Milan team and its fans emotions to real football. The front Inter
can count on Wesley Sneijder, who may play at the beginning of the game, and hopefully upon the availability of Julio Cesar and Esteban Cambiasso. Certain, however, the presence in the field of midfielder Obi, on his debut and Kevin Prince Boateng who, although not proven a veteran of the San Siro stadium, showed reporters to have clear ideas and a strong will to win the Nerazzurri, declaring his hope of "bringing home the three points."
27/10/2010 - At home Juventus desire for redemption, even the judicial level, how Calciopoli suffered in the process of the 2006 knows no respite. This is demonstrated by the words uttered by the president of the company, Andrea Agnelli, in his opening speech to the shareholders of Juventus, still going to Turin.
Juventus President announced, in no uncertain terms, the intention of the club to "advance the request for reallocation of securities", where the correctness of the company is established in the years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, when the Old Lady was awarded the two league titles then withdrawn following the process.
Andra Agnelli mentioned the two proceedings still pending, that the Court of Naples and its all'esposto presented for the lifting of the 2006 championship, and expressed confidence in the response of the Football Association.
"I feel great pride in presiding over this meeting," he said the president-white, saying he was proud to continue that, that in fact, has become a tradition of his family.
10/22/2010 - After the endless words spent on the meeting of the Serbia-Italy soccer Marassi Genoa on 12 October, suspended shortly after the kick-off because guerrilla warfare waged by the ultras of Red Star, UEFA decided to move to action. According to sources, the request of the Prosecutor of the Confederation of European football Leuba Jean-Samuel the rules of UEFA, there would be the win (3-0) for the Azzurri. It also requested the imposition of Serbia to play three home games behind closed doors and exclude, on probation, the Belgrade from being a national of the next two years. As for the blue, the EU has requested the prosecution of two matches behind closed doors, still on probation.
regard to sanctions on parole, the law providing that these sports are effective only when a recurrence.
The request of the prosecution Uefa comes after days of controversy and rebounds of responsibility on the facts of last Oct. 12. Serbia, in fact, despite having apologized shortly after he witnessed the clashes in Genoa, did not fail to criticize the work of the Italian police, alleging deficiencies in the controls. In response, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, who spoke on Oct. 13 leaving a meeting at the Interior Ministry with the police chief Antonio Manganelli, has spoken of "carnage averted" thanks to the excellent work of the police, and calling upon the government in Belgrade not to give lessons. It is not even, however, an admission of underestimation by the police.
Now after the fact, however, Uefa has launched an investigation, from which it emerged responsibility from Italy.
Paragliding in Bergamo, Latin America and the Trofeo Pupo
16/10/2010 - A Bergamo, just in Albino in Val Seriana, October 24 is the traditional meeting place for paragliding, a fixture in the calendar of free flight. Organized by Ali Orobiche, Albino Meeting provides an individual race precision landing takeoff from Mount Rena, in the village of Ganda Aviatico, location near the most famous and tourist Selvino. Access to the takeoff of riders and spectators will be easier thanks to the cable car that connects this mountain resort in the valley by Albino. After takeoff, scheduled from noon, the riders will face a flight duration which depend on the weather, because the technique of gliding flight without an engine or glider will have to take into account the development time to ensure the necessary security. At the end they try to hit a target landing spot in official territory Petello Bondo, a village of Albinus. The flights will end within the 17 to make way for the awards. As usual, provides a large turnout from outside the region. A Norma (Latina) about 110 pilots from across Italy have driven the Trofeo Pupo, organized by the paranormal. The event, originally scheduled for the first weekend in October, has been moved to the next, due to the bad weather conditions, the risk of permanent deletion. The court has not however affected the success of the participation, albeit with only one race in a distance of 50.7 km. In the overall standings before the Bologna Alberto Vitale Roberto Marchetti (Lecco) and the South Tyrolean Peter Gebhard (pictured, from left: Robert Marchetti, Alberto Vitale and Peter Gebhard). Claudio Mancino in Feltre (Belluno) won the sports standings (pictured, from left: Cristoforetti Samuel Mancino and Claudio Damiano Zanocco).
Ferrrais Silvia Buzzi (Milan) was the best riders in the race, the team championship was won by the Emilian Spiritolibero (pictured, from left, Gabriella Corradi (Vicenza), Ferrrais Silvia Buzzi (Milan) the Lazio Sonia Contarini).
12/10/2010 - What was supposed to be the evening's European Championship qualifying match, played in Genoa in Italy and Serbia, had very little calcium. Without the players and very active people over the Serbs, who have literally hijacked the Marassi, first forcing the referee to delay the start of the meeting of 37 'and then to stop after just six minutes, when the network now has become torn an entry point in the field of flares. The first signs of impending guerrilla warned even before the entry of fans from Belgrade, when the news began to circulate of 3 stops and 15 wounded in clashes with Serbs Police (or even the visiting supporters have painted the wall of the Palazzo Ducale). But the situation worsens at the stadium, where 1,600 of the Red Star ultras in the field host, began to throw smoke bombs to the nearby northern tier, filled with Italian supporters. Soon launching the interesting field, until the explosion of a bomb map, which reveals the inability of firefighters to control the situation. At that point, police in riot gear, argues the sideline beyond the fence that the fans enjoy themselves foreign to hit a locked.
This is the picture of the situation that the players, still unaware, located just off the pitch. Several players Serbs, including Stankovic and Krasic, trying to calm their supporters, applauding. But the truce lasts achieved very little. So, at 21:27, the game resumed but with difficulty: the public Serbia blue whistles every time the opposing team touches the ball, until, at 6 ', the race was stopped again because of smoke in the field and in the corners, and 21:38 at the national competition Scottish Thomson makes the final decision to suspend the meeting. The scuffles, as expected, there were even after the suspension of the game. Outside the stadium, in fact, the Serbs have faced a hundred supporters of Italian ultras throwing bottles and smoke bombs. Some away fans have also climbed over the turnstiles in search of physical confrontation, forcing police in riot gear formed a cordon to divisiorio also using armored vehicles.
TAKEN "BLACK MAN": It's called Ivan Bogdanov - 13/10/2010 - It was the undisputed star of the night in Italy, Serbia, constantly taken by the cameras with the hood and the black T-shirt with the skull and moves the boundary between man and primate. We saw it perched on the network industry guests, and then cut it with a socket and from there, with his muscular physique full of tattoos, throwing smoke bombs in a field, while the other ultras Serbs helped to scupper the evening of football provided. But Ivan Bogdanov, "the black man", the "terrible" as many call it, at the end of his evening, was unable to escape the police, who have tried all night to find it, to 2.30, in the luggage compartment of bus dell'ultmo fans Serbs remained in the square of the Ferraris. The agents were sent down from the bus and all passengers had ordered him to remove his shirt, to recognize the tattoos of Ivan immortalized by the cameras, but none seemed to correspond to the image of the person sought. Then the twist: Ivan was hidden in the boot, the last bus. The applause of the onlookers and insults, "the black man" of the Red Star was plated and dragged along with several bags with paper bombs and flares, back to the Marassi stadium. Then Ivan the Terrible was taken to jail, where he later explained: "I have nothing against Italy, I have it with my team. I love my country. "
29/09/2010 - The combination of free flight Paranormal and the city of Norma (Latina) will host the next 1, 2 and 3 October the second edition of the Trofeo Pupo, national competition gliders that part of the circuit of the Italian Cup. The numbers flattering on participation (160 pre-registered riders, although be allowed a maximum of 130) of the appointment of Lazio are a great competition and exhibition for sports lovers of flying without an engine. Norma Lepine rises in the mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea and is situated on a plateau of 400 meters overlooking the Pontine plain by a cliff. It enjoys a mild climate and environment the free flight due to the proximity of the sea and this mountain chain. Taking off from where soar pilots valuable archaeological site is located in the ancient city of Norba, a mere 430 tall. A ridge 25 km facilitates the soaring of these systems that are governed in the sky using the ascending air currents, from radiation caused soil. The major findings of the area are Mount Semprevisa (1500 m) and Mount Lupone (1350 m). In the competition area includes the towns of Sermoneta Sezze, Cori Bassett, extending south to to Terracina. On 16 and 17 October will be the Regions Cup paragliding pilots already which will involve participants the various regional championships. Theatre of the race will be the magnificent scenery of Poggio Bustone (Rieti), located appreciated by all pilots to fly free. Organized by the Association Outdoorsports in collaboration with the combination of the chick. The basin retina is known for its excellent weather conditions, suitable for paragliding enough to host the Italian championships last spring and the final World Cup last year. is expected turnout of up to about 130 pilots, many difficult to overcome in order to ensure the necessary security to the participants, considering the size of assets and subsequent occupation of airspace.
For more information on the Regions Cup, contact Joseph Mastromichele - info@outdoorsports.it http://www.outdoorsports.it / ----------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 years in flight through the clouds in Bergamo Bolzano
08/09/2010 - Sunday, September 19 at Palazzago (Bergamo) Bergamo Free Flight Association will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary. This is an important date for the 70 pilots who practice hang gliding and paragliding in the ranks of this association and the many who have fought, many still in touch with colleagues today. The date shows as well as free-flying, exciting discipline that uses the engine as the energy of the sun and the air flows upward, the result of irradiation of the soil, is solidly established between the sports and leisure activities in the province, as elsewhere in Italy. The Orobiche foothills and valleys of Bergamo is an enviable fitness for the practice of free flight, clubs and activities here includes schools in Caprino Bergamasco, Albino, in Val Gandino and Rovetta. For the 30 years of Free Flight Bergamo expect riders, friends and visitors a bit 'all over the region. After the meeting around noon, from take-off and Mount Roncola Linzone begin flights will culminate in the vast land of Palazzago with a call for accuracy. Buffet and awards will follow. difficult to establish specific times: the free flight is strongly linked to weather conditions and the vagaries of weather that affect every program. At the same time Falken Falzes Club (Bolzano) celebrate the 35th year of operation, 17, 18 and 20 of the month. For the occasion in Campo Tures, there will be an Air Show with a variety of acrobatic, demonstrations of model aircraft, and helicopters, parachuting, gliders, balloons and of course, paragliding and hang-gliders, present for this special world champion Alex Ploner, l ' blue that holds the world title. To crown it all a country music festival at the Sports Palace.
Tour du Mont Blanc mountain bike 2010 (clockwise).
first stop by Courmayeur to Les Chapieux
Distance traveled: ~ 40 km
Ascending: ~ 1900 meters.
hours on the bike: ~ 5h (1h drive portage + 10 ')
Maximum altitude: 2516m (Col de la Seigne)
Time: 10.00 - 18.30 (including all breaks)
July 31, 2010
beautiful part motivated by the parking Entreves and almost immediately we stopped in a grocery store run by Pugliese (!) which prepare us for the delicious bacon sandwiches appreciate that along the way: good start ... !
We go so in Val Veni and soon we reach Rifugio Monte Bianco CAI Uget managed by Turin and then the beautiful valley with a hotel and amusement park in Le Pra at an altitude of 1900m. where the coffee break is almost mandatory. The sight of glaciers Brenva of Freney and Miage, the same group of white tip and we face together the day with a wonderful weather we fill the heart of real mountain, the muscles warm, the wind takes the right pace The spirit of hard work right pianom grows gradually as you ride.
continue on the steep dirt road and we begin to see the first trekkers in almost every sense way we are curious enough to look at us and smiling, some even a photographer there. We come then to Rif Della Courbe Tzeleuna and then go down to the hut next to the coffee-Col Chècroui place in a beautiful meadow basin. Do not fail to notice that the discharged battery chair of tourists to climb up the 2000 with their trolley to address the inhuman hardships of gargantuan grill offers the refuge.
We pull straight ahead, pretending not to see or smell the scents coming from the steaming trays that pass alongside. Now we're on a true path, finally!, We remain at high altitude, on a beautiful balcony, Apo his car would consume the entire picture today you start to push the bike on foot, then portage, we are in seventh heaven, the effort would begin to be felt, but did not we listen!
Let us first with Arp Vieille sup. and then lower and therefore we engaged in the dirt of the valley to Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini arraccando. Donato continues without stopping, said to have an open account with his calves, will be the verification of his tenacity, his head is working well, we'll find up to the Col de La Seigne to expect happy dressed in alpine wind ... Claudio Paul and I are the compass, by reference, and I bike, I do not stop to photograph and admire this creation of the highlands.
After the rite of immortalized the hill, and 'down time, we expect a thousand meters in the first part is on a nice single, technically, never boring, exciting, runs well, such as photos, and we arrive at the Chalet Ref . Mottets des, then dirt road and after passing the village of La Ville des Glaciers, we follow the asphalt ribbon of fast, always downhill, now in the shadows and landed in Les Chapieux to 'Auberge De La Nova, where the friendly couple of managers, he shows us our two beautiful bedrooms, dinner and sleep thinking about the present day has just ended and the path of tomorrow. The bikes are safe in the garage, the site is very cool and very close with a quick post-dinner walk. Fortunately, there are discos!
After a hearty breakfast, we start with the specific intent certainly to avoid the brow the infamous Col du Bonhomme that according to all bikers who have preceded us in this endeavor, it is 'something' that does not make much sense to bike. The day promises to set bright and crisp. We go up a trail and sometimes mixed stone grassy hill to the above, but we leave after about 150 mt. in altitude to take the D902, one of the few stretches of asphalt in our Tour will then comes the Cormet du Roselend to 1976m altitude. Apo coffee is already in withdrawal, so must for dark brew ciofeche French semi-like espresso.
soon embark on one of the Apo-variants that despite initial grumbling of the other 3 of his comrades, will be quite appreciated by all. Basically it is a very interesting 'is long' performing an infinite ring, around Lake Roselend more or less modeled on a part of the Tour of Beaufortain with peak maximum at Col du Grand Fond and, at times even with full technical and after about 600mt. uphill will take us to land on the dirt road that surrounds the lake from its southern part with ups and downs that will lead us to Les Lanches, micropaesini one of the lake. For an inviting bar on the right along the road (the first of two), we see a little 'bike stacked that invite us to stop. Shyly ask for the sandwiches, the operator gives us a face as if to say: "Abandon all hope Ye who enter here "and kind, a good menu propina we say so 'rider' who, in good taste, we appreciate very happy, washed down with good beer. We know what we expected, or better, Apo had described it to others. Shortly before the second part of the bar business on a cart rather brutal with fifteen turns, with our foremen in the hot sun of early afternoon, will take us up to the beautiful grassy Col de La Sure. Right onto a trail soon grassy path that is very close and we will lose about 120mt. height difference. Below you will ride only up to an altitude of about 2000m. And then with the total thrust the bike on the steep grassy slopes of the Col de La Gitte (2359m.). The effort of this second part of the day you definitely feel, eat, and while we meditate on masochism chronic mountain-biker, I realize that this hill I know more than that of the Apennine Alps. Initial stretch quite technical descent that together we are committed and uplifts us and we we gear on the asphalt that climbs to the Col du Joly (1989m.), civility, too, Italians, photos and requests made by various groups that meet, the inevitable beer the wind that grows with our satisfaction. We go down, and ... other Apo-variant, technical as it is very narrow and exposed, I recognize that they are not quite sure exactly where we will bring, and instead will work, exciting, fast-paced, unpredictable. We go along steep woods on the classical pathway of TMB settled down on the ground floor mixed rock solid, giocosissimo, but ... we must also pay attention to the many hikers who respectfully salute, the most parts, but others just for the truth, however much they do not like our passing. We come to Notre Dame de la Gorge, the area is very beautiful, dotted with playgrounds for children, teens and adults! The area is very cozy place where we try our overnight stay, the Chalet des Contamines CAF, where the faithful friend Mark, our 5th travel companion to today, our reliable taxi waiting for us-trekker-accurate precision. We welcome with great joy. The Refuge is really cozy, spartan but warm, nice hot shower, the lady who runs the hotel is very kind, a group of British taste the delicious dinner with us. In 5 of 6 people dortoir a deal for all 5 of us, great.
hours on the bike: 3:50 a.m. ~ '(pressure ~ 40' + ~ 0h portage)
Maximum altitude: 1653m (Col de Voza)
Time: 09.30h - 15.30 (including all breaks)
2 August 2010
tough After two beautiful days, now almost a stage of transfer, but nothing is ever ordinary bike, which is why we love this sport, is not it dear readers?! In fact, in spite of "transfer", the climb to the Col de Voza, will prove quite difficult due to the very high average slope of the dirt path. We get there after passing the villages of La Villette and Le Champel after a stretch of downhill to St. Gervais and turn right on the steep earthwork which gave hints above. In the beginning, we push the bike at times, more or less ...
us curious about the hill the legendary Tramway du Mont Blanc, a beautiful rack railway that leads to the bases of the glaciers of Mont Blanc, via the Col de Voza, Bellevue and up to Nid d'Aigle. We stopped by the funny guy older than the French Bar Hill, Apo but insists he wants to go there, it gives me the idea that there is an air of history, mountaineering, ice, rock, and in fact is so, and ... eventually recognize that other supranational French lady at the bottom is not so bad.
For the descent we use the Bike Park, Les Houches, the bottom is very muddy and slippery and care must be taken, let's try some catwalk strictly blue (the red ones seem to us their 'toxic' to be done the first time) while the rest of the walk down the path always blue except for a stretch of red with the mud and the slope will prove to be 'too'. .. In any case the rest of the tour we will find land and also much more technical stuff that Apo is much like that other than for the artificial bike parks in a lot of playful.
Always following the GR5-E2, cross-country skiing in winter and away from the traffic of N205, we come across the beautiful tourist Chamonix, but there is no time for shopping, it's raining, sometimes , but of those "features" pretty intense!
In a break with rain, we take advantage to merge up to speed Refuge "Le Nouveau Grassonnet" in the homonymous village 2-3 km before the village of Argentiere. This home is definitely more spartan, economic as amazing of all the Tour We are surprised as curious, seem to be plunged back back in the 70s of flower children ... The pair of operators is both funny and what particular alternative, everything here is almost self-management, the preparation of the tables up to wash dishes! Luckily Apo had booked dinner as well, otherwise we would have also had to cook, maybe going to make us spending, who knows ...! Dinner is simple and abundant, the shower excellent, the indoor cycle. In spite of how it looks on the outside, the structure is really great and the room where there is a gigantic beam dated 1799 (!) In all heavy and ancient wood, where there are mountains of old books is a 'parlor' connected with a huge stone fireplace which lies in an 'other neighboring room. In one of the many other rooms, there is also a ping-pong, and in the evening, before dinner we love to taste rods. It pours out in torrents, we feel really lucky.
Donato will appreciate this place, definitely unique, definitely not to miss ... including odors
hours on the bike: 4:40 a.m. ~ '(push ~ 2h10' portage + ~ 20 ')
Maximum altitude: 2250m ~ (Col de la Croix de Fer)
Time: 09.30h - 19.00 (including all breaks)
August 3, 2010
The forecast is still uncertain, but not quite bad and we are confident that even timidly in afternoon will improve. We know now that the day will be a long, long, and the chilly climate and uncertain not entice a lot.
cross the Argentiere where we do the nasty trick of holding a boulangerie that saddled four baguettes, pound of ham with the discrete local toma at an exorbitant price, to prepare the sandwiches come without stuffed food vendutoci precious weight in gold.
Take Balcon du Nord and reach the village of Le Tour (1453m), typical village ski resort base. Apo is not very convinced, but eventually the gang, a little fearful of uncertain weather, decided to take cable car lift to reach the 2191m +. Col de Balme, we are on the Franco-Swiss border! While I realize that in fact we go up the climb was definitely hard to cycle though. There is a pretty cool, a must in hot coffee on top of the hill Refuge. Next, on the advice of the elderly lady owner of the structure, avoiding the path to the right denied to bikes, take the track uphill and beautiful markings with cycling of '80% brings us to the Col de la Croix de Fer at about 2300m altitude and then descend Close to Catogne d'en bas les Tseppes, and we sense to be on the variant of the Tour du Mont Blanc Vallorcine. The single is fun, medium-technical tight, never dull and quite pending. At one point, at an altitude of 1850m would say. the surprise: the path that I sense to be 'normal' bike from (left) is interrupted for work on cutting timber, randonneur a careful reading of the sign several times and finally decided to go right for a single-track and narrow steep. What about us? Well, we decided to follow him, not we break the laws of Switzerland 'only' because the other side of the trail would be much easier (at least at first sight so parrebe). The descent will be very challenging but very stimulating, a succession of several tight hairpin bends and sometimes all with significant slopes. If I remember badly, I consider, however, a cycling around 90% for good cyclists.
arrive, or better land in Trient with sore wrists and calves from 1000 meters down to very serious. Cross the bridge and after 200m. uphill brings us to the Col de la Forclaz. Stop and edible caffettuosa a must. We meet the first real group of Austrian bikers like us want to take the tour in VTT. They start down the path that leads to the Col du Bovine, APA-evil-genius-sadomasochizzante who knows what others say about this hill, decide, propose, partly through such nonsense requires svalicare path, since only in this way I call for a biker. I will do short, ie numbers. After cycling industry for about 600-700 meters, 400 meters we sorbitol. Rise between thrust and portage, which is certainly not non-downhill, where there shoulder it-even-at least 500! The land is viscidissimo that day, the bike is beyond us sometimes unwittingly, and we walk! Fall over with it is not so difficult, in some passages it hard to understand where and how we get when we arrive at the excavation we say it is a miracle that no one has taken a great distortion to the ankles. And 'certainly a path for an average hiker on foot, it is no easy trek. When we get on the Hill, however, we enjoy a good beer "de le reine" in honor of Milio which I promptly sent a photo to my arrival in Italy. From the hill of the original beautiful cycling path balcony above the beautiful pastures (guessed from there the name of the hill), to deceive us great and we hope that the path is not as brutal, but it does not forgive! We arrive at the excavation, then the asphalt, we come with his last strength to the beautiful resort of Champex Lac and came to 'Hotel Alpina Hotel Chalet, we are greeted by Mark and accurate by the owner of the beautiful hotel where we sleep in two beautiful rooms, all wood Ferret overlooking the valley and Gran San Bernardo against the backdrop of majestic Grand Combin. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi tub! Apo E you get lost in for at least half an hour. Excellent dinner at night even better, super breakfast, nice salty account. We are around 90-100 € for half a skull. None of the group complains, indeed, the day after, a nice prize!
hours on the bike: ~ 5h30 '(push ~ 1h + portage 0h)
Maximum altitude: 2359m (Col de la Gitte)
Time: 09.00h - 18.15 (including all breaks)
August 4, 2010
From the square of our great hotel we decide to get off on a beautiful dirt road and not just get the asphalt to which we connected after one kilometer and a half of trail in the beautiful forest. We are in the valley, but soon go back up to the village where Prassurny in steep slope, we take a dirt road that leads to a narrow path where we can push the bike path to link to the classic TMB. Another Apovariante success, and I think "I went well ...". And continue the path becomes at times too few cycle for the slopes or the bottom rather uneven, but they are only short steps. After several salts come down, swoop down on Issert finally, we are in Switzerland, and we soon realize: there is very little people around, everything is most perfectly ordered, even the cows just seem out of a grooming service (!), the houses seem painted by two days, the grass is perfectly cut "at", in the beautiful wooden houses almost all are to spruce up various wooden animals including a bear that even tries to climb to a support beam of the balcony rather than the inevitable, beautiful, funny little men with lots of smiling White Sfizera that governs them. After a long but not overly strenuous ride, with a bright sun, we come to La Fouly located approximately 1600m. level, and here the rest pappatoria is (at least to us) almost a must. A nice salad 'cycling' is not there no lever. We know what we're waiting ...
Resume, then we go to Ferret and after crossing the river in the valley of the same name, attack, dry up, we start to understand that you do not mess around anymore, but morale is high, especially that of Claus, which -non-trained, seeeeee, just him! Trudging up like a deer for all ripidoni to Col du Grand Ferret! I do not remember, at that point, to have seen off the bike, I can assure you that the fifth day, and those with slopes that fund, almost a record. Paul also is not far behind, I will give in and Dona well, but ... sometimes, not very often (think worse), we have to inevitably push, even to preserve the healthy muscoletti to get up the hill but also especially in Courmayeur. Once in the Peul meet one of the few groups of bikers, this time English, likeable, their counter-clockwise, I think the third day and started from Les Hoches, with whom we exchange views and laughter. In this pasture, there are many very hungry tourists, other than in the sun, is the post-stage of the mules, which are exploited here to carry luggage, backpacks of hikers 'lazy' in Italy and that svalicano back in Switzerland along the Val Ferret. Along the way we have to ask the road to warn of our arrival (we are faster than them, what satisfaction!) Without risking a whore even in the face. As we climb we cross countless groups of tourists, hikers say the Japanese to look good (apart from a few isolated and lonely trekkers Japanese or Chinese who always carry their good zainone) could be dressed and prepared to be exactly the same way to Piazza San Marco New York Financial Center or at the Falls of Niagara, for their own equipment and super super telephoto lenses with Nikon from two feet, included in the visor hat, jacket style hunter with a thousand pockets, water always available and the inevitable large-lens glasses ... office!
surplus While I am heartened by hearing the applause of a group of children with disabilities who have been inclined to do hiking up there, that knot in the heart, for a moment make me shivers down my arms and back, _loro_ I applaud ...
finally arrived to the Col du Grand Ferret, a lot of people up there, and also two mules, mangiottiamo, we do a lot of photos, the glaciers of Pré de Bar and Triolet to dominate the entire context.
down the saddle and go down, this single piece of non-trivial at all air, sometimes scassatelo and maybe a little digging, but advises caution certainly encourages us, and the pictures are wasted, we come to Elena Hut and the weather is nice and cool, the sky-is-here a bit too close '. From the refuge we take the path that basically starts from the bottom of the terrace, and even here, I would say until Arnuva, nothing trivial, but handsome and air, via a combination of the other, then more enjoyable, more peaceful, up and down La Vachey. End of "games", or the end of suffering, depending on how one lives ... We decide not to go the balcony and the Bonatti refuge Bertone 'that we already have' to just 'like that! So we relax much along the asphalt along the Italian Val Ferret, Apo at some point stopped, attracted by a written sales tome and fontina in a hut along the way, makes the purchase and serve you a nice person of color that we lacked a little would begin to speak in patois (!), I, there in a hut crammed with fragrant cheeses handsomely (or puzzosi for those who love them), Val d'Aosta, as in Switzerland, served by a person who immigrated from Ghana from Senegal or Mali, fully integrated, the younger sister outside to load material presumably lead to the pastures. I did not feel like I'm taking photos, so today I can not tell if they were mirages after 5 days. efforts of a few salts or supplements that may have taken during the same, tell you what I know for sure is that my backpack weighed up to Entreves cars with all that damn sure a little 'bit of cheese that I bought the Alpine, but if you want to see for themselves, there remains that you also try to do the Tour du Mont Blanc en VTT!
The next August we go back in the game this time as organizers, since 18.a edition of the World Championships will hang in the background the beautiful scenery of the Monte Cucco at Seal (Perugia) and the medieval towns of Umbria 
The next August we go back in the game this time as organizers, since 18.a edition of the World Championships will hang in the background the beautiful scenery of the Monte Cucco at Seal (Perugia) and the medieval towns of Umbria 
