There are good reasons why the UCI has repeatedly organised the World Cup and World Downhill Championships in Val di Sole since 2008: Highly committed locals look after the trails here without taking away the natural character of the descents. The international downhill elite love the Black Snake world championship route for its steep sections and its difficult to calculate hairpin bends, because behind them lurks either a carpet of roots or a rock garden full of holes. If you don't want to leave the track ingloriously here, you need a sensitive chassis, a courageous riding style and quick reactions. A real contrast to all the easy flow lines that are laid on the mountain slopes in most other Alpine regions. This is why the Daolasa cable car in Commezzadura is mainly used by ambitious amateur downhillers who want to compete with the skills of the pros.
But the Val di Sole can also be gentle and epic: for example, if you follow the valley cycle path specially created for bikers up to the Tonale Pass, you can take the cable car to a completely different trail world, namely that of the Ponte di Legno bike park. Eight family-friendly lines await you here with plenty of flow, north shores and a high alpine panorama. When you get off the top chairlift at an altitude of 2,200 metres, you can see the Stelvio National Park to the north, the Brenta Dolomites to the side and the glacier peaks of the Adamello group to the south. Against this backdrop, you now have a choice: you can either carve down the flow lines through the alpine meadows or embark on a high alpine backcountry experience.
The trail crew has signposted a total of 500 kilometres of trails up here, which also lead past relics from the First World War. This means that all trail lovers are catered for in Val di Sole. But perhaps the best thing of all is that in the evening you will most likely be sitting in a restaurant where pros like Loic Bruni, Greg Minnaar and Vali Höll order their pizza before the race and perhaps sleep in the same bed afterwards?
Info Val di Sole
The World Cup venues for 2025 have not yet been finalised. What is certain, however, is that the World Downhill Championships will be held in Val di Sole again in 2026. Information on events, accommodation and tours: visitvaldisole.it
Val di Sole Bike Park
The park is located just behind Malé, at the north-eastern entrance to the valley in Commezzadura and has been organising World Cups and World Championships since 2008.
Routes: There are a total of four descents to choose from (550 metres in altitude). The most famous: Black Snake with 2.3 kilometres. The other three routes are between 3 and 4 kilometres long and are of medium difficulty.
OpenThree cable cars shuttle you up to the trail entrances. Season: 8.6.-22.9.24 (closed on race dates), price for a day ticket: 44 euros. Info about the trails: www.ski.it
Ponte di Legno - Tonale Bike Park
This park is suitable for the whole family and is located on the Tonale Pass at the head of the Val di Sole valley.
Routes: Eight different descents with berms, jumps and creative Northshore elements (easy to medium difficulty). Plus: two courses for kids and 24 signposted laps for touring bikers.
Open: A cable car and four chairlifts take you up to an altitude of 2200 metres. Season: 8.6. - 8.9.24, price for a day ticket: 37 euros. Info: centrobikevaldisole.com
General information about the region: visitvaldisole.it
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
