Giro di Aosta

Just a short post for a quick ride around the hills near Aosta, Italy. I'm staying at Gignod with the intention of doing the Great Saint Bernard Pass. But I'm waiting for better weather. So in the meantime I designed this little loop around Aosta.

I travelled light. I had my lunch before leaving. I didn't have a backpack, drone, etc and took only one energy gel, which I didn't use.

The temperature was low to mid teens and it was very breezy. In fact there was a weather warning in place for wind today. It wasn't supposed to be that sunny, but luckily I had a fair bit even though the skies were mainly cloudy. So I wore a base layer, long-sleeved jersey, cap under helmet and took my snood and rain jacket.

The first two miles or so climbed gently above Gignod and then past various hamlets.

There were many views of Aosta down in the valley ahead. The road started descending and I suddenly realised there was no course showing on my Wahoo. I stopped at a place with a massive view over Aosta, to sort out what had gone wrong.

I was cursing the Wahoo and thinking I'll have to reload the course. But then I zoomed out the map and I saw the course was still on it. I gradually realised I had missed a turn. That's not easy because the Wahoo beeps at you if you miss a turn. I must have been so distracted with the view and the descent that I missed the warning. Doh!

So I had to climb back up to take the missed turn, after which the road continued to climb for another couple of miles. Once the road eventually levelled out, I stopped and put my rain jacket on, and my snood. It really was too cold to descend without them.

This road, up in the hills above Aosta, was a pleasure to ride on. The surface was excellent, particularly further up, some of it being brand new. There were attractive retaining walls made of rocks and there was very little traffic - I seem to recall less than ten cars during the twelve miles from Gignod down to Sarre.

I didn't stop on the whole descent but video'd the whole thing. That's too big to upload here but here's a taster.

The temperature was warmer, inevitably, down in the valley. I headed straight into the strong NW wind at first but then once across the river I headed back eastwards and enjoyed a tailwind. I took my rain jacket off but left my snood on.

Four mainly flat miles were along a (not very busy) main road through a series of small towns; Pompiod, Jovençan , Gressan, before cossing back over the river at Pont Suaz and into Aosta proper. I went past the railway station and within less than a mile was climbing out of town, this time on the other side of the Buthier valley.

The next four miles were a very easy climb, averaging 4.5% with just a couple of 7% sectors.

It was around this time that I looked at the Wahoo to see how many miles I had left to go. I think it was 6 or 7, so not bad, and the road even started descending. I thought I saw Gignod over to the left of me across the valley, so I thought I'm nearly there. The road crossed over the river Buthier and joined a main road. I thought it must be the main road into Gignod that I had travelled on yesterday in my van. Yay! I thought, I'm nearly back. Then I saw a welcome to Gignod sign to confirm it. The only doubt in my mind (which wasn't much of one) was that I didn't remember crossing those speed bumps in my van yesterday. Still I carried on, confident of my imminent arrival.

Then my Wahoo indicated I'd missed a turn! (And this time I had heard it!) What!? I thought. So I turned round, saw the turn off rise ridiculously steeply in front of me. It had to be at least 20% for the first 100 m or so. Then it carried on climbing for a mile or so. I couldn't work out what was going on, and had completely lost my bearings. On it went, round switchbacks, past a farm, past woods, past some cows.

After that cow photo, I couldn't get started again, the hill was so steep. I had to start by going across the road. Eventually the gradient eased slightly and at last I recognised the entrance to where I'm parked. I should have trusted my memory and known that I hadn't crossed those speed bumps yesterday, so it couldn't have been the road I thought (hoped) it was.

It had been a very enjoyable ride and I'm glad I got out there.

When I came to look at the photos and videos afterwards, the scenes didn't look as spectacular as I had remembered them on the ride, especially the aerial views of Aosta. Then I realised that, for the first time since last year, I'd been wearing my (prescription) polarised cycling glasses and not my contact lenses. Bloody hell, I'd forgotten what a difference they make. I may not like the look 'of' them, but I really like the look 'through' them. Maybe I'll start wearing them again - why should I care what I look like, at my age...

Just a shame I can't make the photos/videos look that good. (Yeah, I could use a CPL filter on my camera - maybe I'll investigate).