The Italian region Marche wants the millions of TV viewers of the Tirreno-Adriatico not only to watch the race finale, but also to cycle there themselves. That made ATIM, the region's tourism office, announced today in an international press release, linked to the final three stages of the Tirreno that passed through Marche from 13 to 15 March.
The message is concrete: four elaborate cycling routes should put the region on the map as a destination for road cyclists, gravel riders and mountain bikers. In doing so, the race acts as a marketing machine. According to ATIM, the Tirreno-Adriatico generates more than 2,843 hours of TV broadcasts across five continents, accounting for some 36 million viewers.
Three stages, from muri to coastal finish
The last three Tirreno stages give a good idea of what Marche has to offer. Stage 5 (Marotta-Mondolfo to Mombaroccio, about 185km) contains more than 10 climbs and finishes on a lap with the climb to Santuario del Beato Sante. Stage 6 (San Severino Marche to Camerino, about 189km) is the classification stage, with the Muro della Madonna delle Carceri as the showpiece at 18% gradient. And stage 7 concludes with the traditional coastal finish in San Benedetto del Tronto After 143km from Civitanova Marche.
So the weekend offers exactly the mix the region wants to convey: hills, historic villages, short steep walls and then the Adriatic coast.
Four routes, four types of cyclists
ATIM puts forward four established routes as top picks for cycle tourists. In a nutshell:
- Ciclovia delle Abbazie - 69km along the Chienti river valley, on cycle paths past Romanesque abbeys. Consider the Abbazia di San Claudio al Chienti and the Abbadia di Fiastra. Cultural route suitable for a relaxing day.
- Ciclovia Adriatica - the coastal route from north to south through the region, beach on one side, rolling hills on the other. Accessible and wide-ranging.
- Ciclo Appenninica Alte Marche - around 200km through the northern Apennine region, connecting nine municipalities including Acqualagna, Cagli and Sassoferrato. For those who like longer days with altimeters.
- Grande Anello dei Sibillini - some 180km of mountain bike trails around the entire Monti Sibillini National Park. Mainly forest roads and quiet paved roads. Stages can be adapted to level and preference.
The Abbey route caters to racing cyclists, while the coast and the Apennines are suitable for gravel and touring cyclists. For mountain bikers, there is the Sibillini Tour.
We will highlight the routes in more detail (and who knows, we might just go there too)!
€27.5 million for the Ciclovia Adriatica
It does not stop at pretty pictures on TV. The region is also investing in infrastructure. In July 2025, it made Regione Marche €27.5 million free for the completion of the Ciclovia Adriatica within the region, from Gabicce to Porto d'Ascoli. This covers more than 67km of cycle tracks, plus maintenance of existing stretches. Marche is also the lead region for the national Ciclovia Adriatica project.
The idea is a “ridge structure”: the coastal route as the backbone, with side routes inland. Whether in practice that already rides as smoothly as it sounds? We don't know first-hand, but the money and the plan are there.
The Giro d'Italia follows in May
The Tirreno is not the only race event in Marche this year. On Saturday, May 16, the stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia at Fermo, after a 159km ride from Chieti. The finale includes a 4.3km climb to Capodarco, followed by a technical finish in the narrow streets of the old town centre. Fermo last saw a Giro finish in 1972.
Marina Santucci, director of ATIM, said, “By investing in cycling, from top competition to a wide range of cycling tourism routes, Marche is strengthening its international position.”
Bike-friendly network under construction
ATIM goes on to talk about a growing network of cycle-friendly accommodation, specialist guides, rental and maintenance services. The kind of info that really makes a trip interesting, but which you as a cyclist have to search for concretely. For more route and travel information, the region refers to letsmarche.it.
Marche is not yet at the top of the list for many Dutch cyclists. The region positions itself as a quieter alternative to Tuscany or the Dolomites. The question is whether the region can deliver on its promised level of service.
Do you already know Marche from cycling? On road, gravel or MTB? We'd love to hear how it goes in practice.
