Time of Valle d’Aosta, time of the race dedicated to mountains and slopes
57º Giro Ciclístico della Valle d´Aosta
From 16 to 18 July
Its motto is resounding, forceful: ‘Where the champion born’, where champions are born. Here comes the Giro del Valle d’Aosta, one of the toughest races in the world amateur field, given the particular orography of the area, in the heart of the Alps, and the predisposition of the organisers, Società Ciclistica Valdostana, to always look for climbs to make the routes tougher. Champions are born in Aosta, yes, and they do so at the cost of managing unparalleled orography. Most of the members of its final podium in recent years are already professionals in top formations.
This will be the first participation of the U23 structure in the Giro del Valle d’Aosta, a race in which the continental structure of the Contador Foundation has been taking part since its creation in 2017. Questions of categories and the organisation of the sport, sometimes a little strange. In Aosta, the first team has always achieved very good results, fighting for the overall in some editions and also winning stages. A cyclist like Juan Pedro López, now in the WorldTour with Trek-Segafredo and a member of all the sports structures of the Foundation, won a stage here two years ago.
Two Italians and three Spaniards compose the quintet with which the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team U23 goes to Valdaostanas: Andrea Montoli, Davide Piganzoli, Álvaro García, Álex Martín and Fernando Tercero. Piganzoli, Martin and Tercero come from competing in Italy a little more than a month ago in the demanding Giro U23, a race in which Piganzoli finished tenth in his first season in the category. Piga, in addition, arrives after having won bronze in the time trial of the U23 nationals.
The route proposed by the organisers is slightly shorter than in previous years, with only three stages, all three of which will be held entirely on Italian soil. The pandemic has made its presence felt, preventing the usual visits of these past editions to both French and Swiss soil. In any case, three very demanding days with a second stage that will ultimately be crucial in deciding the final winner: the finish in Cervinia, at an altitude of 2,000 metres, on a very difficult climb that is reached after a previous passage over the very tough Col St Pantaleon. The last day will also have a summit finish. The three stages, a great novelty in 2021, will be broadcast on Facebook and Youtube.
The stages.
16 July: Pollein – Pollein (110.7 km).
17 July: Valtourneche – Breuil Cervinia (158.4 km).
18th July: Fénis – Cogne / Valnontey (149 km).
