L'Etape Italy by Tour de France brings not one but two Granfondo this year. With two variants in Piedmont. The Valle Gesso is kicking off and Mondovi in the province of Cuneo will follow in the autumn. It almost answers the question: is such a granfondo worthwhile if you want to get to know a region? We say yes! and for two reasons that you don't get on an ordinary bike ride: Empty roads and a concrete goal.
Closed roads change everything
The biggest enemy of enjoyment on a bike is traffic. Shrugging shoulders for overtaking vans, timing junctions, engine noise snapping your thoughts. In a well-organised granfondo, that falls away. The roads are completely or partially closed, and what remains is the sound of freehubs, breathing and the occasional encouragement from the kerb.
You dare to look at a mountainside three seconds longer and notice lavender growing along the side. You don't have to shout to ask a driving companion something. L'Etape du Tour is known for the road closures on official Tour courses, and so is the L'etape Italy by Tour de France. The difference from a typical training ride through the same area is huge.
A goal completes the journey
Training without a destination is hard to sustain. A granfondo on the calendar changes that. You know: on day X I have to be able to handle that distance and those altimeters. That gives structure to your weeks before, and it makes the experience along the way more intense. You have lived towards it.
As one former pro rider put it, “I prefer a mantra of ‘completion over competition’ these days... the memories of my past racing experiences inevitably come rushing back.” That combination of personal challenge and shared experience is what makes a granfondo more than a bike ride. It also forces you to plan the trip seriously, seek accommodation, maybe spend an extra day exploring. Thus, a cycling event automatically becomes a cycling trip.
Three Italian flavours for your calendar
If you are considering discovering Italy via a granfondo, here are two events that show exactly why this format works.
L'Etape Italy by Tour de France
The Italian edition of L'Etape brings the format of the Tour de France to Italian roads. Participants ride on closed courses reminiscent of the grand tours, with the organisational backbone of the Tour brand behind them. For cyclists who want to taste the atmosphere of the Tour without having to go to France, this is a logical entry point.
What makes L'Etape Italy attractive as an exploration: you ride routes specially selected to showcase the Italian countryside. The road closures allow you to experience those routes as they are meant to be experienced, without worrying about Italian traffic.
| Event | Route | Distance / altimeters | Profile | Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L'Étape Piemonte (Entracque) | Long route | 140 km / 3,000 hm* | High mountains | Full-fledged Alpine granfondo, tough climbing challenge |
| L'Étape Piemonte (Entracque) | Short route | 75 km / 1,500 hm* | Mountainous | Accessible mountain granfondo, but still challenging |
| L'Étape Mondovì | Long route | 110.5-120 km / 2,000 hm | Hilly / mountainous | Main route for experienced amateurs and competitive riders |
| L'Étape Mondovì | Short route | approx. 60 km / approx. 1,000 hm* | Hilly | Entry-level granfondo experience |
Maratona dles Dolomites
When: 5 July 2026
Where: Alta Badia, Dolomites
The Maratona dles Dolomites is the dream on the calendar for many cyclists. Every year, 8,000 participants are selected by lottery. The roads are completely closed to traffic. The Ladin valleys, just for you and your fellow cyclists. The theme for 2026 is “Pax” and the organisation emphasises the mountains as a symbol of fairness and community.
The routes are as follows:
| Route | Distance | Altimeters | Key passes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | 138 km | 4.230 m | Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Giau, Falzarego |
| Mid | 106 km | 3.130 m | Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Falzarego |
| Sellaronda | 55 km | 1.780 m | Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena |
The Giau (9.9 km at 9.3%) is the pivotal point of the long route. That's where you know if you've trained enough. But even the Sellaronda of 55 km with 1,780 altitude metres is no mean feat. The organisers describe it as if “the Ladin valleys open up exclusively to those who choose the bike.”
Good to know: the draw is crucial. Register in time and do not count on having a place right away. Do plan your accommodation in La Villa or its surroundings in advance, because after the draw everything will be gone.
Same principle
L'Etape Italy and the Maratona dles Dolomites are very different events, in scale, in character and in difficulty. But the principle is the same: you ride on roads not normally yours, to a finish you have earned. You see more, you feel more, and you remember better than from the back seat of a coach.
Those after the news about L'Etape Italy doubts whether a granfondo is something: start by registering. The rest will follow naturally.
And if you can't make these two dates? There are so many beautiful granfondos in Italy, such as the decades-old Nove Colli, Via del Sale and more.
