The high mountain stage number 14 starts in Cherasco and finishes in Cervinia. It’s a total of 209km cycling, finishing with a blisteringly tough 1500m vertical ascent to the Aosta Valley resort.

A tough day's cycling...

Currently Canadian Ryder Hesjedal is leading the race by 9 seconds from Joaquin Rodriguez, but you can expect that all to change over this weekend, as racers such as Ivan Basso and Franck Schleck come to the fore.

For more on cycling in the magnificent Aosta Valley, check out Bike Vallee d’Aosta

The course winds its way through the mountains

It’s not long now until the 2012 Giro d’Italia cycle race comes to the Aosta Valley.

On Saturday 19 May, the cyclists will take on the climb to Cervinia, the first of the mountain stages.  And you can try the ascent yourself, thanks to the Bike Club d’Aosta.

The “Brevetto Maglia Rosa Valle d’Aosta” takes place on Sunday 20 May.

The cost from just EUR55, includes a goody bag containing the Giro pink jersey, mechanical assistance at departure, printing at the finish, changing services, medical assistance, pasta party and baggage transport from start to finish.

Two of the climbs will be timed so you can compare your fitness with your friends!

Program of the “Brevetto Maglia Rosa Valle d’Aosta“ 

• Departure: at 9 Sunday, May 20, 2012, from Saint-Vincent
• Arrival: Breuil-Cervinia
• Route: 78 km / 2,800 m in altitude.

For more information, please call 015 25 22650-333 28 13 069 or email booking@bikevalledaosta.it

Snowflake - the albino Ibex

Discovered, captured and photographed as part of an expedition June 24, 2007, Snowflakes lives near the valley The Laurels, in the town of Brissogne.

Roberto Anglisani in "La Conquista del Cervino" - "The Conquest of the Matterhorn"

Jean Antoine Carrel - Valtournenche 1829 - 1890

The other day I immensely enjoyed an incredible play at the Giacosa Theatre in Aosta - “La Conquista del Cervino” – “The Conquest of the Matterhorn”, the captivating  story of the extraordinary race between Englishman Edward Whymper and Italian Alpine Guide Jean Antoine Carrel to reach the summit of the Matterhorn, a true piece of real local and international mountain history which took place here on our doorstep in the mid 1800′s. 

Edward Whymper, (London 1840 - Chamonix 1911)

Written by our great friend Livio Viani along with Roberto Anglisani and Alessandro Cappai, in Italian, the story, (accompanied by musicians from the Chamber Orchestra of the Aosta Valley to original music by Giorgio Negro), is highly emotively narrated by actor Robert Anglisani who imaginatively moves you from your theatre seat, through all the high altitude stress, effort, fatigue, frustruation, suffering and tragedy, to the absolute joy upon reaching, finally, the top of our world here in the midst of the Monterosa mountain range. 

As part of our summer events calendar here in Champoluc, we have a whole week of theatre organised for our guests fron 30th July till 5th August… who knows if we can bring “The Conquest of the Matterhorn” for you here in the heart of the Monterosa?!

Call us at the Hotel Castor to book your week of theatrical events here in Champoluc

When I went with Coolbus, we were dropped off at Col de Petit St Bernard and then dropped down to La Thuile from there down some very off piste stuff – it was an epic day!

My GPS tracker died at 2pm having done 70km already and we were out until gone 6pm when we rode back down into Bourg St Maurice in time for a quick beer and the last funicular!

Awake each morning to the sweet scent of nature and breakfast being prepared just footsteps from your bedside. The Dalai Lama Village is just one hour from Turin airport by car, providing the perfect excuse for a big short break. Fly to Turin with affordable daily flights served by both scheduled and low-cost airlines (British Airways and Easyjet.)

Located at 1,500m on a natural grassy terrace overlooking the Valtournenche Mountains, with unbeatable walking, biking, rafting and hiking adventures unlimited.

For those with a more relaxed holiday pace in mind, Dalai Lama’s spa of delights beckons with indoor and outdoor pools, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, massage shower and sundeck to lap up the rays and admire the spectacular views.

However, it is the gastronomy for which this sought-after spot should be most highly praised. The “Locanda Dalai Lama” has been awarded the seal of quality “Saveurs du Val d’Aoste” and offers lip-smacking menus in an intimate setting with unrivalled views over the valley.

The Inn of the Dalai Lama, a typical mountain restaurant with buckets of Aostan charm, boasts a chef who continues to delight with influential recipes of Valle d’Aosta, but is also renowned for his superb freshwater fish dishes. Local living and seasonal eating is what the Valle d’Aosta is all about.

Two bathroom blocks with hot running water are available 24/7. Washing machines, tumble dryers, and even ironing, are provided so you can concentrate on relaxing as hard as you like.

A sumptuous lounge bar encourages guests to kick back and laze, while little people are kept entertained with an outdoor play park, swimming, table tennis, soccer pitches, basketball, volleyball, bowling, archery – the list goes on!

Stay from 159 Euros for two people for four nights, including two massage spa treatments, free and unlimited use of spa and gym facilities, and free WIFI in lounge bar.

Regions: Courmayeur, Montblanc, La Thuile, Monte Rosa.
Freeriders: Egor Druzhinin, Konstantin Galat, Ilia Kolesnov and Anna Hankevich.