From 6 to 9 June we were guests at Rosadira Dolomiti Bike Days, a sporting and multi-sensory event.
It took place in the wonderful Dolomite scenery of the Val d'Ega, Eggental, for the locals of South Tyrol.
A celebration for mountain bike lovers, created to promote the sport and to help enthusiasts discover nature and the wonderful views that this valley has to offer.
The heart of the festival was located at the Kònig Laurin cable car station at an altitude of 1743 m just below the Catinaccio peaks, from here the numerous organized mountain bike tours started.
Excursions of all levels to discover the network of itineraries throughout the area, where we were guided and supported by the guides of theAlto Adige MTB Guide Association, specialized in accompanying groups of all levels, also being able to choose different specific courses, to increase mountain biking technique, and then put into practice the knowledge acquired directly on the trail. The multi-time biathlon world champion will be the guest of the event Dorothea Wierer, who also participated in some of the proposed tours.
Furthermore, thanks to the collaboration of brands such as Ghost e Norco, mtb, baby mtb, e-bike and the innovative light e-bikes such as the "Ghost Patrioth" and the "Norco Fluid" were made available for testing.
(Credits: Jens Vögele) Dorothea Wierer during a tour, the Catinaccio in the background
During this Dolomite bike festival, I enjoyed exploring most of the paths in the area, well-marked single trails and with the accompaniment of the guide, they were fun and exciting rides, surrounded by magnificent panoramas and glimpses of wild nature. Eggental is a beautiful and green valley, a UNESCO heritage site, dominated on one side by the imposing Catinaccio/Rosengarten and on the other by the Latemar massif, the latter which is reflected in the clear waters of the characteristic Carezza Lake, also It is surrounded by majestic fir forests and green meadows.
The Val d'Ega is crossed by numerous streams, walking and cycling through its woods you can savor the smell of freedom and you can admire squirrels, roe deer, chamois, deer in their natural habitat and pointing your eyes towards the sky, among at the highest peaks it is not difficult to spot the majestic golden eagle, which watches over us from above.
(Credits: Jens Vögele) Riders ready for the bike tour, towards the Latemar massif
Why did I define it as a “multisensory event”?
To further enhance the territory and enhance the cultural warmth that this valley has to offer us, different experiences have been organized every evening to cheer up tourists, with tastings, music and shows.
Friday evening we were guests in the elegant "Tshien" restaurant to savor the tasty typical dishes and specialties of the area, reunited with the media and photographers invited to the festival and the competent, all-female management of Eggental. They showed us all the passion they put into their work, very helpful in giving us information relating to traditions and projects relating to the valorisation of tourism.
After dinner we went to the shores of one of the pearls of the area, Lake Carezza.
Where a band made up of a trio of musicians with harp, piano, percussion and double bass, thrilled everyone, creating sublime melodies on a terrace right on the calm waters of the lake, where the great Latemar was reflected, illuminated by the last lights of the day.
On Saturday evening, a talented blues band and a very good fire juggler pleasantly entertained us at the "Franzin Alm" restaurant at the foot of the Rosengarten massif, while we waited for the long-awaited optical phenomenon called "enrosadira", where, under the lights of sunset, the Dolomites take on a characteristic reddish and pink colour, from here I deduce the apt name of the "Rosadira Bike".
(Credits: Jens Vögele) The “Harpiano” trio on Lake Carezza
But let's return to the most heartfelt and interesting point for us. In this valley surrounded by stone giants, there are over 500 km of natural paths and single tracks that intersect to create a highly respectable trail network, there is something for all tastes and styles, a true paradise for trekking and mountain biking during the hot season, not to mention skiing and other winter sports.
Also very interesting for those who love cycling with road or gravel bikes through the valleys, going down the hill through the "passo carezza" and the "passo costa lungo" right in the middle, between the border of the province of Trento and Bolzano which connects the Val d' Ega to Val di Fassa.
(Credits: Jens Vögele) Fun even for the little ones
For families, excursions can be organised, cycling together with their children, away from traffic to enjoy the views and the surrounding nature, through the numerous connecting dirt roads that wind through the forests and meadows, gently cutting through the valley, thus allowing travel, even for those with little experience.
(Credits: Jens Vögele) Bikers on an excursion at the foot of the Rosengarten
For the most experienced and enjoyable bikers, lovers of long rides, fans of natural paths, this is the right place, tortuous single trails that get lost among the fir forests, where with the right level of technique, you can enjoy some beautiful circular tours pedaling and descending on typical high mountain natural paths with rocks, lots of roots and technical passages, which will make you enjoy the nature that surrounds you to the fullest.
(Credits: Jens Vögele) Mountain bike tour on natural trails
To remove most of the difference in altitude, the network of facilitiesCarezza Dolomites” is equipped with modern cable cars, where inside they allow the transport of bikes and in a fast and panoramic way you can get close to the peaks of the Catinaccio and start already at high altitude for our tours, such as the Konig Laurin cable car in Nova Levante and the Tires cable car.
(Credits: Jens Vögele) The Nova Levante-Konig Laurin cable car
Val d'Ega, like Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa, were unfortunately deeply affected in the heart of their forests in October 2018 by Hurricane Vaia, with millions of trees felled, under the unstoppable force of wind.
Clearings have been created where previously there were forests, an impressive devastation...
6 years after the event the landscape has changed, those felled trees are stacked up for sale and ready for a second life, the inhabitants and regional authorities, with the union have created the strength to react and the valley is being reborn, new small fir trees emerge from the ground and where before there was no light due to the dense forests, now black blueberries, flowers and various medicinal plants are reborn, the lush streams restore vigor to the land, so the unstoppable nature comes back to life.
Let's remember that the mountain belongs to everyone, the paths are shared and you may encounter hikers on your route, so let's show respect, slow down and pay attention.
(Credits: Jens Vögele) Transfer from the Catinaccio slope, towards the Latemar rock labyrinth
To stay in the valley, you are spoiled for choice, for those traveling by camper or with camperized vehicles there are large car parks equipped for panoramic stops.
Alternatively, you can choose between characteristic stone hotels, within period structures in full South Tyrolean style and for those who love all the comforts, the highly organized and modern sports and bike hotels.
We were guests of the “Hotel Passo Carezza” a brand new cutting-edge sports hotel, which deviates from the traditional, to offer a modern service to lovers of all sports and also to 4-legged friends, for skiers in the winter there is the comfortable “Passo Carezza” chairlift right behind the hotel. For bikers, there are special bike racks in the underground garage and the paths that start directly outside the doors. Upon request there is a mtb rental service using the various bike rental companies in the area. Here we were spoiled by Maria and her very kind staff, with rich sweet and savory breakfasts, attentive and available even for those with gluten or dairy intolerances, they gave us a relaxing stay equipped with all comforts, with special services such as the blue room, a spa equipped with a Finnish sauna and Turkish bath.
(Credits: Jens Vögele) Tires-Carezza panoramic cable car, in front of the Rosengarten
Here we are at the point and the question you are all asking yourselves...
Is there a Bike Park worked and combed like in other tourist locations?
<..The answer is... in part!> As in any self-respecting tourist location, there are some prepared lines, fundamental to giving everyone the opportunity to have fun according to their own style, in fact at the foot of the valley in Nova Levante at an altitude of 1182 m, you can take the “Konig Laurin 1” cable car which will quickly take you to an altitude of 1743 m, the nerve center of the Rosadira Bike Festival event, then taking another cable car, the “Konig Laurin 2” right at the end of the first, you can go up further and reach the middle station at 1977 m, from here the “Carezza Trails“and the “Pumpline”.
(Credits: Eggental) Drop of the Carezza Trail
Two artificial paths, fun and non-trivial, which run alongside a stream and start separately in the first part, then rejoin in the middle.
They descend towards the valley, with the classic bike park flow style with humps, panettones, drops, doubles and jumps, bank curves and artificial walls, plus we find fun variations, such as an alternative line on a "north shore" style wooden walkway ”, suspended a few centimeters from the ground, equipped with a non-slip net, which winds through the woods crossing a stream.
(Credits: Harald Wisthaler) Caress Trail
The natural surface of the earth trail is largely covered by packed gravel, which at first impression leads us to think that it is slippery, but in reality, it makes the ground compact and safe, even in case of rain or damp ground, it helps to drain the water and ensure that the trail remains intact for longer, halving maintenance.
I have personally run this trail several times at high speed and I must say that it is done well, with knowledge and nothing is left to chance, adequate distance between the humps, smooth curves, right slope to have a constant speed and maintain the flow without necessarily braking too, an easy trail, within everyone's reach and perfect for improving technique.
I agree with the choice to maintain most of the paths with a "wild" style, where natural single trails reign supreme, moving away from the classic combed style of other bike parks, but being able to enjoy nature, without affecting the territory too much.
Comparing myself with the local guides, the love and passion that unites us in this sport shines through.
(Credits: Jens Vögele) Passion, fun and sharing emotions. Carezza Lake
In addition to entertaining us, it enhances magnificent scenery and promotes healthy and sustainable tourism in a valley in constant growth and rebirth, where we are guests of a nature that must be savored and experienced with the utmost respect, so if you love wild exploration and are looking for an uncontaminated adventure, the Ega Valley is certainly an unmissable destination. #enjoyeggental
