Italian MTB Short Track XCC Championship and Tour des Salasses Mont Blanc

The Italian short track mountain bike championship

In La Salle, a municipality in the Valdigne valley at the foot of Mont Blanc, an entire weekend dedicated to mountain biking takes place. The protagonist of Saturday is the Italian XCC Championship (cross country short track), which awards the Italian jersey in one of the most modern and spectacular off-road disciplines: short and intense races on a fast circuit, designed to thrill spectators along the track.

Two days, two races

On Saturday, the Italian XCC Championship is held on the municipal pump track in La Salle, a circuit of about one kilometer with about thirty meters of elevation gain per lap, technical sections, and two artificial jumps built to make the race spectacular. On Sunday, it's the turn of the youth Tour des Salasses Mont Blanc, a national Olympic cross country (XCO) race included in the Italia Bike Cup Young circuit: a loop of just over three kilometers with about 140 meters of elevation gain per lap, featuring short climbs, technical sections, and dynamic descents.

A new direction for the Tour des Salasses

Historically linked to long-distance races, the Tour des Salasses is taking a new direction with this format, as explained by the organizing club: it's moving from marathon races to competitions that are "symbols of speed and explosiveness," culminating in the awarding of the Italian XCC title. The categories range from U15 (Esordienti) to U17 (Allievi) and U19 (Juniores), in addition to the Open category for the Italian championship.

Organization and territory

The event is organized by the Velo Club Courmayeur Mont Blanc, a benchmark for cycling in Valdigne, and brings a nationally significant event to the heart of the Aosta Valley, capable of combining sport, spectacle, and promotion of the Mont Blanc territory.