Passo Invergneux (Banzai-Trail)
Description
From Cogne, the initial ascent is leisurely. The little road to Champlong is quite flat and an ideal warm-up route. But then things get serious: at the entrance to the village, you turn left onto a small road that quickly gains altitude over many serpentine bends. The little road, soon on gravel, leads up for long stretches, passing the Alp Tzavanis, and at a plateau you turn left over the stream and then much steeper through the southern flanks below the Passo del'Invergneux. At a hairpin bend to the right, follow the singletrail straight ahead. This leads to the top of the pass. Very good riders manage this almost entirely by riding, but many push for long stretches. On the last few meters before the top of the pass, the bike has to be carried a short distance. Then you are at the start of the Banzai Trail. This leads quite flat through the wonderful plateau. There are no houses to be seen here, just untouched nature and the single trail. This trail is one of the best single trails in the Aosta Valley! It is super smooth, with the only challenging section after Alp Grauson. Then it's super fun again until Gimillan, where the fast final section awaits. Finally, you reach Cogne again, and everyone here agrees: the Banzai Trail is one of the best mountain bike trails in the Alps.
Tips:
- Ambitious mountain bikers start the tour on the Piatta di Grevon, accessible by chairlift from the Pila Bikepark. Cogne can then be reached via Col le Tzasetze on a first-class singletrail descent.
- The return journey from Cogne to Aosta is only possible via the main road.
- From the end of July to October, depending on snow in the upper areas. Caution: The Passo Invergneux is at 2902 meters above sea level.
Map & GPX-Track
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Details of the tour
31 km
1410 m
1410 m
1 day
Cogne
Cogne
1535
limited
More information
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User comments (14)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
An absolutely amazing ride! The last 20 meters of elevation gain are really tough even on an e-bike, but doable. There were still a few small patches of snow today, but they weren't a problem. Thanks for this perfect ride.
If you start from Pila and want to head back towards Aosta, you can take the Colle de Saint Marcel with you. The descent is easy to ride and there are a few more passages than marked on the map. E.g. at the waterfall after the small lake.
The descent is not quite as perfect, but still much better than from Cogne on the road to Aosta.
Fantastic! Apart from the trail, the landscape at the pass is also simply beautiful. The trail is very flowy most of the time and without any difficulties, one of the most beautiful I've ridden. At the bottom, however, it has a few more difficult sections that are also really fun. On the day we were there in mid-August, however, some people had their difficulties. It was also Saturday and there were a few hikers around midday, but they were all in good spirits.
There are still a few small snow fields at the top of the descent, but they can all be easily crossed or bypassed.
We rode the tour the day before yesterday (for the 3rd time). I can warmly recommend it to everyone: Although the ascent is long and tough at the end, the descent makes up for everything. The first half of the descent is pure flow for me, you can let go of the brakes again and again and enjoy the trail.
Further down, it becomes more challenging and rocky.
Here too: I would have ticked condition 4
We rode the tour on 24.07.2020. And so much up front...this tour makes it onto my top ten ever list!!! I'm still flashed today. The ascent is easy to ride except for the last 200 meters, only from there on you have to push or carry. The descent is pure pleasure. There are a few technical sections here and there, but the rest is pure flow. It's possible that the trail is too easy for technically strong bikers, but for me it was pure riding fun.
I ride a Scott Genius Ultimate and am usually in the head group uphill; downhill, I'm always the last one by a long way.
Did the Tor yesterday. Conclusion: A brilliant tour with endless, flowing trails and stunning scenery. The descent is long but beautiful. The last 300m have to be pushed and sometimes even carried. There is no restaurant, but there are always fountains to fill up with water on the ascent. Definitely recommended...! Great...!
Beautiful tour. Unfortunately, it's already quite well-trodden at the top (shortcuts etc.).
Personally, I find it a bit bland at times on the plateau, too little gradient.
I like the trail better at the bottom when it gets more technical.
Tip: At the bottom at Gimillan, don't take the boring path into the forest as in the track, but take the trail down to the left.
On the way back from Cogne to Aosta at Pondel, take the cool trail behind the waterfall (track from Col Lauson Tour)
Fantastic tour: varied and absolutely top scenery! Here on video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a04zn0BgFrg
on 21.09.2017 from Col Tsa Sètse via Arpisson - Pian di Teppe - Gimilan- Cogne: only about 75 vertical meters of the descent (after the transition 2777m.ü.M / Point de Tsavanis) were not so great for me. This trail variant is 100% worth it!
End of August 2017: simply brilliant. Does anyone know the variant mentioned in the description / tip: Ambitious bikers start from Piatta di Grevon.... Is the descent from Col Tsa Sètse via Arpisson to Gimilan - Cogne so first-class?
We can only confirm that it is one of the finest the Alps have to offer. All three of us were totally thrilled! It should be mentioned that there are no catering facilities, neither water nor anything else. Nevertheless, this tour is worth every bead of sweat, because even the ascent is super beautiful. A "must" tour in the Aosta Valley!
Flow, flow and more flow. Super tour. Uphill, up to the climb, very homogeneous. Then, very nice trail with only one S3 section, otherwise mostly S1.
Great tour, great single trail that felt endless. Also a scenic highlight.