Well, Sauze d'Oulx probably doesn't mean much to most people. It didn't to me either. What sounds like a French stew is actually a small town in Piedmont - the Italian western Alps, rather wild mountains. I was familiar with Sestriere from the 2006 Olympic Games. Sauze d'Oulx itself lies at an altitude of 1550 metres, around 80 kilometres west of Turin. Anyone who watched the 2006 Olympic freestyle competitions on television has practically been here with their eyes.
I know that I briefly zapped into it back then. I didn't realise that the chairlift had a really funny name: "Sportinia" is the name of the lift. But to be honest, I have my doubts as to whether this bike park, which has been under construction here since 2007, is really a sporty place. But the mountains around it are exciting. Now I'd like to be an eagle to fly down these fine mountain ranges.
But instead, I have to change lifts again. From the Sportinia lift, I continue on the Seggiovia-Rocce-Nere lift. It finally takes me to the start of the trail, which introduces itself to me as the "Super Sauze". It's supposed to be the best. 900 metres of biking fun. It's marvellous, I love rolling up to the start and having no idea what to expect. My pulse is pumping and all thoughts of job, home and women are gone. I can focus on the essentials.
And action: the first bends shoot along free of trees with plenty of panoramic views. Trail number 12 impresses with open, fast bends. So always build up pressure on the outside pedal and knee towards the frame. The bike turns smoothly and precisely wherever I want it to, which is great. The terrain is cropped between the curve combinations. Depending on your preference, you can surf the waves, bunny-hop over them or, if you can anticipate a landing, you can even jump. Yay, I love virgin terrain!
The second third of the route is called "Pian della Rocca" or simply trail no. 6. You could also have crossed here from the top station of the Sportinia lift. But coming from the top, the flow doesn't stop. On the contrary, it is complemented by a few more outstanding features. Others claim that the flow of the trail is interrupted a little here. But that is of course a matter of opinion. We're talking about drops and jumps that suddenly open up in front of the handlebars. The obstacles are hand-crafted and all optimally sized. They rise up in front of me at different heights, but always in such a way that you can feel your way round them even if you're new to the course. The landings: perfect. Steep enough for a gentle touchdown and long enough for a stress-free run-out. Nevertheless, you should of course take a quick look at each device beforehand. The much easier bypasses were also drawn into the ground for this purpose.
Now it's off through the forest. The last third of the descent. Another fox was at work here. The bends nestle harmoniously into the berms. Always with a clever change of direction. I feel a bit like a pinball, only I'm pushing the buttons myself. The next bend, the next root, the next jump - it's all easy to assess and plan here. Somehow these trails seem as if someone had gone through them with a hoover this morning.
I have no idea how long it took us to cover these 900 metres in altitude. But that doesn't matter. The only thing that counts for me: There were moments of lightness and that's what characterises a really good trail. Rarely have I been so challenged on a descent as I was here on the Super Sauze. And not because it was so difficult. In terms of difficulty, I would categorise it more as "medium". No, it's rather the many tasks that follow each other so quickly. In between, you can always build up or maintain momentum with the help of small waves. If possible, without pedalling or pulling the brakes. Pushing is the future. My happiness battery is fully charged after this experience. Only the energy battery still has reserves for about four to five descents.
The entire article on the Sauze 12 Supertrail in Piedmont is also available as a PDF download below.
