BAC Val d'Aosta 2012

Giro display

I must not have paid much attention to the ride details for this tour. I forgot that today's ride went to the base of the Matterhorn. We left the hotel around 8:40, coasted downhill for about 3km and then started to climb. There were a lot of steep sections, a few not so steep, several tunnels and a few villages along the way. We saw lots of writing on the pavement urging on bicycle racers. The Giro d'Italia finished a stage on this road a month ago. In one of the larger villages I stopped and took a photo of a Giro display.

Marie Tesch and me in Cervinia

The top of the climb and the end of the road was at Cervinia . It was here where we had the best views of the Matterhorn . It was lunch time and I was hungry. On previous days I had been eating panini for lunch, but I wanted something more substantial and tasty today. Earlier riders from our group had found a small cafe and recommended it. I talked Marie Tesch and Henry Lam into sharing a real meal with me. I had taglialinni with tomatoes, asparagus and bacon. It was yummy and perfect to celebrate the climb.

On the climb, I was riding with Julie Leever, Margie Kirk, Midge Cross, Janet Monks, Marie Tesch, Paul Goessling and Henry Lam. They all left Cervinia before I did because I was taking more photos. I made it down the hill and to the hotel all by myself. The ride was beautiful (it seems to be a standard on this tour). The temperature was warm but very windy at the end. The only negative about the route is that it forced us to climb slightly on the way into town. This could not be avoided, though.

I had my after-ride gelato - crime, chocolate, pistachio and cinnamon.

We gathered in the main piazza for a group photo. Afterwards, some of us went back to last night's pizzeria. Instead of pizza, I had spaghetti with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and arugula along with a mixed salad. It was very good.

Click here for more photos from today.

Here are my statistics for the ride.