La Thuile

European bike-park colour grades - green/blue (easy), red (intermediate), black (expert); Trailforks mirrors these (blue/black).

Natural group split at the mid-mountain lift junction (~1900 m / top of Bosco Express) - less-confident riders lap only the mellower upper section or download, while stronger riders continue into the steep lower forest.

Good mixed-ability fit - families/beginners on green/blue and easy areas (Colle San Carlo, Miniere, Petosan, La Promise), advanced riders on steep blacks; lift-served so low fitness barrier.

Long natural descents with big continuous vertical - open meadow/rock-slab up high transitioning to rooty, rocky natural forest singletrack lower down; predominantly natural (not machine-groomed flow) with some built features.

Two zones - the upper (2400-1900 m, Chalet Express) is open alpine meadow with smooth gradient, rock slabs, drops, wide sightlines and minimal exposure; the lower (1900-1400 m, Bosco Express) is steep, off-camber, rooty, rocky forest with counterslopes, dusty in heat.

Waymarked/numbered park trails shown on the official map with directional signs; the wider region includes unmarked backcountry enduro/military-road routes.

Busy during the July World Cup weekend and summer peak; the wider region (Colle San Carlo, Miniere, military roads) offers quiet backcountry riding away from the park core.

Lift-served summer only - the 2025 season ran daily 28 June to 7 September (Bosco Express 09:30-17:00, Chalet Express 09:45-16:45). A newer/shorter bike season than long-established parks.

Summer, roughly July-August peak; trails are in best condition around the July race window.

NEW UCI Mountain Bike World Cup host. The 2025 debut (3-6 July) was Downhill + Enduro, flagged by UCI as a new venue with the steepest DH course in World Cup history and the sport's first Enduro night stage; 2026 (3-5 July) expands to a rare quad-header of DH, Enduro, XCO and XCC (Round 7). Also a former Enduro World Series venue (2014-2021).

La Thuile sits at the western head of the Aosta Valley near the French border. Nearest towns Courmayeur (~15 km), Pre-Saint-Didier (9 km, nearest rail), Morgex (A5 exit) and Aosta city (~35-40 km); airports Geneva ~2 h, Turin Caselle ~2 h, Milan ~3 h.

Two summer bike-carrying chairlifts - Bosco Express (from village) and Chalet Express (upper mountain), operated by Funivie Piccolo San Bernardo; summer shuttle buses serve Colle Piccolo San Bernardo, Rutor Falls and Colle San Carlo.

Full-suspension/enduro or DH bike and protective gear (helmet, body/limb protection) advised; carry basic repair tools/spares. Free Wi-Fi and power-bank charging at the resort base; mobile coverage good in village, patchier in high backcountry (est).

Base area has bike rental (OnlySki Express), repair/service, restaurants, an MTB school, a pump track and dual slalom; a Ship To Cycle bike-delivery service is available.

Aosta Valley Freeride (Aymavilles-based, guiding these trails 15+ years); the local MTB School; OnlySki (rental); wider Aosta Valley hubs at Pila and Courmayeur.

Steep exposed technical black terrain (World Cup-grade), roots/rock, off-camber lower forest, dust when dry, high-altitude weather and shared use with hikers (pedestrians have priority); park access is typically restricted during World Cup race days.

None required for the marked lift-served park; solo riding permitted (rules advise leaving an itinerary if riding alone), with guides recommended for backcountry/enduro terrain.

Single emergency number 112 (Aosta Valley mountain rescue); lift stations act as bail-out/download points, with a posted accident protocol on-site (protect casualty, mark location, call 112).