Vetta Punta Nera

The Valle di Susa is perfect for breaking altitude records as a mountain biker. One particular highlight is Punta Nera: a magnificent 3000-metre bike climb on the Italian/French border near Bardonecchia.

Description

This mountain bike tour starts in the sporty town of Bardonecchia, known for its cable cars, ski lifts and bike parks. The southern part of the village offers excellent infrastructure for outdoor enthusiasts, but the real adventure and challenges await in the north.

From Bardonecchia, the route first rides through the idyllic village on asphalt and later changes to a gravel road, which is a military track of the Vallo Alpino. With a moderate to steep gradient, bikers climb steadily, accompanied by an engineering masterpiece from the Second World War on the way to Colle della Rho. The route offers spectacular viewpoints and leads through the impressive Rho gallery and tunnel.

The route reaches the Piano dei Morti, the plateau of death, where numerous buildings of the Vallo Alpino can be found. From there, the route only continues pedaling in sections to the Colle della Rho. Shortly before the pass, the path turns right to the summit, where the bike is finally pushed or carried. The challenging ascent and the bizarre rock formations of the lunar landscape require the bike to be carried at an altitude of almost 2900 meters above sea level. A particularly tricky section, which also has to be tackled on foot on the descent, leads around striking rock needles.

On reaching the summit, you are treated to a breathtaking panorama that stretches from Monviso to Mont Blanc and also includes the Po Valley. The descent begins on a demanding S2 and S3 level, where the grippy gravel and rock formations are particularly challenging. After briefly pushing the bike along the rocky outcrops, you return to the ascent route, which leads past the military installations. The Mulattiera trail rides downhill with a difficulty of S3 and turns into a Karn gravel path that offers a gentle transition to the Grange della Rho. From there, a few trail truncations lead back to the starting point in Bardonecchia.

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