From 15 June, Livigno, the kingdom of outdoor activities, is getting ready to welcome all biking enthusiasts who can't wait to explore the 3,200 km of GPS-mapped trails in the Little Tibet bike area on their own bikes, choosing between road bikes, e-bikes, MTBs, enduro, flow trails, downhill and freeride.
In fact, 15 June is the official opening date of the Mottolino Bikepark, one of the best Bikeparks in Italy, ideal for the most reckless bikers and gravity lovers: its 14 trails are divided into three levels of difficulty - the Blue Trails for beginners, the Red Trails, both flowing and technical and dynamic, and the Black Trails for the bravest - to give everyone the chance to have fun on two wheels. There is also the opportunity to have a fun riding experience by jumping in the Jump Area, or to plunge into the forest to raise the level of riding on the wooden structures of the North Shore area, or to experience the adrenaline rush of downhill.
Bike lovers will also be able to have fun on the routes of the Carosello 3000 Mountain Park and the SITAS Mountain Area, which will be accessible from 22 and 28 June respectively: beginners, families and experienced bikers will be able to admire the panorama overlooking Lake Livigno directly from their bikes, crossing the various flow trails or opting for the enduro routes, with more technical riding for the fun of the more daring.
The Tutti Frutti Epic Mtb Tour, departing from the Carosello 3000 cable car and arriving at the Livigno Centro cable car, is an ‘epic’ route that covers 50 km and combines part of the new Carosello 3000 mtb trails with some of Livigno's historic trails, perfect for all-mountain, cross-country and enduro enthusiasts.
And for those who want to have fun in freedom on both sides, the ideal solution is to choose the Bike Pass Livigno, a daily, multi-day or seasonal card, which allows all mountain bikers access to the Mottolino, Carosello and Sitas lifts equipped with MTB transport
Another way to discover Livigno is by road-cycling, which allows road-bikers to experience of discovering the most famous Alpine passes, such as Stelvio, Bernina, Gavia, Mortirolo, Foscagno and Maloja: unforgettable tours, which are also often chosen by professional teams as a place for summer training in the mountains. Or, for those who want to relive at first hand one of the most beautiful pages ever written in the history of cycling, can attempt the epic climb to the finish line of Mottolino, at an altitude of 2400 metres, defined absolutely the most challenging stage of the 107th edition of the Giro d'Italia.
Another option for more leisurely cycling is the Livigno cycle path: its route stretches for 17 km, starting from the Livigno Dairy in the Lago area and ending in the Forcola area. During the bike ride, there are several green areas - either equipped for a picnic or with various playgrounds - where you can stop and relax surrounded by nature, alone or in the company of your family and children.
E-bikes, or electric pedal-assisted bicycles, on the other hand, will allow bike lovers to enjoy Livigno's panoramas and immerse themselves in the spirit of adventure, pedalling but without exertion. There are several rentals in the village that also allow you to test the e-bike and get the best advice from the experts for venturing out on the trails around the centre of Livigno. Of the many trails in the area, the three best for e-bikes are the 18km Tee Trail, the 17km Val Federia trail and the trail from Val Alpisella to the Cancano Lakes.
But the Valtellina resort does not only offer first-hand outdoor experiences: during the summer it will be the setting for some of the most exciting sporting events for bike lovers: on 29 June the Granfondo Alè la Merckx will take place, an unmissable event for road cycling fans, which this year, for the first time, will take place in Livigno with two routes available; while on 6 September the resort will host the ICON Xtreme Triathlon, one of the most prestigious extreme long distance competitions of the multi-discipline, which includes 3.8km of swimming in the lake of Livigno, 195km of biking and 5. 000 metres of altitude difference.