The best of 3 countries, including the best trail of the year

Major and minor hits around the greater Mont Blanc region of Aosta Italy, Valais Switzerland and Savoie France. Tomorrow I head to the souther French Alps, and then onto Finale Ligure.

Swiss flow

I spent a few days ticking off classic trails in using the le Tour lifts before they closed. It's good to see tyre tracks on the descent into le Buet. And I even tried a descent I had previously not done above Chatelard. It was very Swiss, fun and fast. How do the Valaisan's cut such good footpaths?

Barage d'Emosson behind

Aosta delivered with more good's high up near the Beccca France. It took us about 5 hours to climb nearly 2000m. Luckily there was a refuge near the top for a drink break. The descent was worth every minute of suffering with views over the Grand Paradiso Parc, high singletrack lead into almost never ending larch needle covered singletrack that begged you to go fast and then gripped you round every tight corner. We of course finished with delicious pizza, despite getting ripped off for drinks in Courmayeur.

Grippy needles?

BEST TRAIL OF THE YEAR?

I don't actually have any photo's of what are possibly my two favourite trails of the year, but let me tell you; Somewhere in the beech and spruce tree's above Pussy(!)/Moutiers lays untouched footpaths with a magic carpet surface of fallen leaves, that are slowly getting shaped into perfect berms and fast straights. Sessoning down these trails with fast riders was such a blast, bwaaaaaap! trailAddiction Ali, Lapierre mechanic Fred, chømage Max and Scottish Nash, thank you!

Not in the woods, but heading to them from the back of Val Morel

Winter then tried to stop us in Switzerland but Cross Road Cycles' Mael kept us going, and it was well worth the cold winds for spectacular views and nice singletrack from the Col du Grand Saint Bernard down to Osierers.

STUNNING CONTRASTS!

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What guides do between work in the peak of July

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Aiguille de la Grande Sassiere 3751m

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