Livigno: Mountain bike paradise for demanding people

I still remember well the conversations with the bikers in the Upper Engadine when we presented the Engadine as a biking destination in the summer of 2012. They were very unhappy, almost a bit frustrated, about the status quo at the time - not all mountains accessible for bikers, no freeriding possible, no bike park, etc. - and they told me that they preferred to go biking in Livigno, because there the offer for bikers was perfect all around. A good reason to look beyond the national border and take a closer look at Livigno.

The village of 6000 people was declared a duty-free zone by Napoleon
The tranquil village of 6,000 people lies opposite the Upper Engadine and is also the quickest to reach from there. If you drive from St. Moritz in the direction of the Bernina Pass, you branch off shortly before via the Forcola di Livigno, but be careful, the road is only open in summer. Livigno can otherwise be reached via Zernez or from Bormio. On the opposite side of the Engadine there is a similar topography and nature. Situated at an altitude of 1816 meters above sea level, you will find a pleasant coolness even in summer, with winter-like temperatures in the early morning. Inhabited since 1000 A.D., the village is known to many tourists primarily as a duty-free zone, and indeed Livigno is still home to numerous stores that thrive on this tourism, offering alcohol, perfumes and cigarettes at low prices, not to mention cheap gasoline. The cheap shopping area on the other side of the border is said to have been founded by Napoleon to ensure that it remained inhabited due to its strategically important but its difficult to access location, especially in winter.

Fabulous bike offer attracts hobby bikers and professionals
A high alpine region like Livigno does not necessarily have it easy to win over bike tourists, the short summer is already one of the green-de for this. The mountain village on the Swiss-Italian border, which tourists like to call "idyllic," has made a name for itself among bikers since the 2005 Mountain Bike World Championships. The region wouldn't have such prominence if it didn't pack such an incredible punch to impress and win over mountain bikers of all levels and ages. No matter what you're looking for as a mountain biker, you'll find it up here: daredevil downhill runs and freeride trails, single trails, enduro routes and cross-country trails. There are no limits to the imagination when it comes to choosing a route. Livigno speaks of a (supposedly) fabulous 3,200 km (!) large route network (we have not measured), which wants to be discovered. And all this with comfortable transportation by railroads that lead to the destination and hoist it to the heights. All this, of course, with an infinite number of tour options in a sometimes completely untouched nature with fabulous scenery and great panoramas, so that even the pleasure bikers get their money's worth. This appeals not only to hobby bikers, but also to racers and professionals who are looking for a versatile and sometimes challenging terrain in which to do their altitude training. That's why Livigno is often used as an altitude training camp. Marco Aurelia Fontana and the Italian national team have made intensive preparations in Livigno in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Endurance training on the road and downhill training on the numerous trails had probably contributed to the fact that Fontana was able to take the bronze medal in London in the end. The Norwegian and multiple world champion Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesja also likes the preparation and the stay in Livigno very much both culinary and athletic, because the Italian cuisine tastes her and supports her effectively on the long climbs and fast trails promotes her preparation optimally.

Bike park and ropes course know how to inspire
A special "treat" is the Mottolino Bikepark: a top professional bike park, which is peppered with steep walls, bridges and other obstacles and offers a total of 12 trails in three levels of difficulty. Simply hop on the gondola, ride up the mountain and whiz down into the valley from the top: this is fun for more demanding endurists and freeriders in particular that you won't find anywhere else in the area. At the summit restaurant "M'eating Point" at an altitude of 2,400 m, you can take a well-deserved break and fortify yourself for the next descent with the specialties of Valtellina cuisine. For those who are looking for a different change and don't want to miss the thrill, the Larix Park is waiting. In the rope park you can move in airy heights between the larches and prove your height fitness.

Helibiking a unique novelty
On the other side of Switzerland, they come up with a lot of ideas to win over the bikers. I was blown away by the offer to be lifted up by helicopter to race from the top of the mountain into the valley - reminds me a bit of freeride skiing in Canada, unique! The non-plus-ultra for freeriders! The MTB Livigno team (www.mtblivigno.eu) runs the whole thing once in June and once in September. Cost 260 Euro/person. For this you get two helicopter flights with transport of the bike, two different downhill routes accompanied by bike guides and a total of 4000 meters of downhill fun. The next helicopter flight will take place on September 6, 2014.

Bike offers as far as the eye can see
The beautiful nature, the healthy mountain air and the impressive network of routes, that's already great, but the whole thing only becomes fully rounded by the large offer of rental bikes, bike schools, bike guides, bike hotels and bike events. More than a dozen stores offer the possibility to rent a bike. Two professional bike schools introduce both experienced and inexperienced bikers to the art of trail riding and freeriding. Numerous bike guides introduce newcomers to the region and show them the most beautiful routes. And a good dozen specialized bike hotels, which know the needs of bikers well and range in price between about 40-100 euros/night, represent a real choice. In addition, numerous bike events provide exciting entertainment when you don't want to sit in the saddle yourself. In view of this variety and abundance of offers, Livigno makes every biker itch to discover this biker kingdom once.

You can find the report in this issue!