Giro-E Enel 2026 – Stage 11 Aymavilles

Giro-E Enel 2026 – Stage 11 Aymavilles – Pila

Welcome to Valle d’Aosta and the Italian Alps! Today’s stage was what many saw as the first real mountain stage for the pros at the Giro d’Italia 2026, with its high-altitude route and finish line. Our e-cyclists had it somewhat easier of course: stage 11 of the Giro-E Enel 2026 – from Aymavilles up to Pila – featured just one climb, although it was a long, difficult one covering almost half of the day’s 34 kilometres. Participants may have taken some consolation from the fact that the pros had 133 kilometres to negotiate without the aid of motors… That said, arriving in Pila on the saddle of a bike is a feeling like no other for those who like to pedal. Majestic cycling in majestic surroundings.

What can we say about the start town, Aymavilles? For a start, there’s a beautiful, recently restored Renaissance castle with cylindrical towers of the same name. In Roman times La Via delle Gallie (Road of the Gauls) – built by Augustus to connect the Po Valley with Gaul – passed through here. If your bike doesn’t come equipped with a motor, that’s the one you should be taking.

What about Pila? It’s a popular destination for cyclists with a Bike Park of international renown. Here you can find an array of routes through woodlands and open slopes, as well as dedicated areas for e-bikes, cross country and learning technique. When you want to dismount, from Lake Chamolé you could take a relaxing stroll surrounded by alpine pastures up to the Christ of Chamolé, where you can enjoy the view… and the spirituality.

Aymavilles-Pila

The route is so short you can almost see the finish from the start line – the only catch being the 1,150-metre height difference between the two (the finish line is 1,793 metres above sea level). But this is Aosta, another land of cycling. Aymavilles was hosting a Giro-E start for the first time, although in 2024 it was the start for stage 2 of the Giro NextGen, which ended in Saint-Vincent and was won by Paul Magnier. This year’s Giro-E participants began with approximately 10 km off route before joining the same route as the Giro itself for the remainder. The group – except for the captains and a handful of hardcore cyclists – tackled the climb up from Gressan with their spirits (and feet) lifted by their bikes’ motors: 16 and a half kilometres with an average gradient of 7.1% and peaks of 11%. A relentless ascent that only ended once you reached at the finish line.

Personality of the day – Uberto Fornara

Among those crossing the line in Pila today was Uberto Fornara, the RCS Sports & Events chairman who organises the Giro d’Italia and Giro-E Enel. A keen cyclist, he raced with the RCS Sports & Events team, naturally.

“I’m a cycling tourist who normally does about six or seven thousand kilometres a year. But last year I did something wonderful: I cycled from Milan to Lecce with a group of friends. Nine days along the backroads, an amazing experience. I used to take part in the occasional Gran Fondo race, but nowadays I prefer to enjoy the views and the landscape, then put a bit of effort into it, because it helps clear my head. I call the bike ‘my therapy’. I jump on the bike at the weekend and I need it to release tension and recharge my batteries. It’s a fantastic sport. Today’s climb was nice and quite challenging despite the pedal assist, although I used the minimum motor assistance. The Giro-E is an ever-expanding event with various purposes – one being to attract more people to this amazing sport. Then there are all the sustainability topics linked to the Title Sponsor Enel and all the other sponsors who help to organise this wonderful event that is becoming increasingly popular every year.”