If the Giro d’Italia For men, the end of last year saw the cycling peloton shift its focus to preparing for the Tour de France. Traditionally, these events have been the Dauphiné, the Tour of Switzerland, and recently also the Tour of Slovenia. In the shadow of these events, Extragiro organizes the equivalent event, the Extra Giro, also known as the Baby Giro. This race for riders under 23 years of age travels through a number of beautiful regions in a short period of time, including this year, 2022, through Emilia Romagna. Cycling Destination was present this year to discover the regions. Explorer Wouter went along to cycle in Italy, and if we can believe his story, he immediately wants to return for a cycling holiday in Italy. What is your favorite region?
Text: Wouter van den Boogard, Photos: Paolo Ciaberta
Tour around Imola
As I receive the program for the trip to Italy, my eye immediately falls on a gem from Italian motorsport. The Imola race track is iconic. Not only for the cars but also for the motorcycles that complete their GrandPrix every year. In 2020, this circuit has gained a new dimension thanks to the (impromptu) organized World Championship in Emilia Romagna. Everyone will still remember Filippo Ganna, Anna van der Breggen and Julian Alaphilippe who took home the prizes there. The red-and-white-green kerbstones were a beautiful backdrop for something that had to be rushed and under pressure. We are also going that way. Driving on sacred ground has its own special something. Just like a ride over Zandvoort, Spa or, for example, the Yas Marina Circuit. Can’t wait.
The car still has priority.
When we arrive in Bologna on Friday, the fresh pasta and cannoli are already waiting for us. That’s the essence of cycling in Italy. After all, you have to eat well if you want to conquer the hilly landscape of Emilia Romagna. We still have to drive a little further towards Imola for a route of almost 30 kilometers over the UCI World Championship course. The reality in Italy is also true: no matter how beautiful it sounds, cars have priority. The circuit is finally closed due to a race event. That’s just too bad. The route is beautiful and takes you through rolling countryside. A wonderful warm-up for the coming days as we chase the 36 (!) participating teams. We are perfectly taken care of after this ride at the Antico Borgo hotel from which we also take the team presentation.
Via Panoramica
Where the Dolomites or the Etna, for example, provide iconic images for the ‘big’ Giro d’Italia, the ExtraGiro opts for a slightly different route. The region around Cesenatico is not the most beautiful, but it is one that is full of cycling history. From the hotel, you have several options, for example along the Adriatic coast, where the villages of Rimini, Riccione and Cesenatico will delight many cycling enthusiasts. Many cyclists will want to visit Cesenatico in particular, as a tribute to Pantani.
Italian Plain
The region near the hotel on the coast is mostly flat, but with a drive of about 100km you can definitely rack up a good number of meters of elevation gain. At least, if that’s your goal for a vacation. If you really want to test your legs, you can find a slight uphill climb in Santarcangelo of +10%. It’s quite steep, but definitely worth it. For our part, we had a small mechanical problem after 33 km. Fortunately, within a quarter of an hour a car from the hotel was there waiting for us and I was driven back to the coast. The bike was fixed by the hotel mechanic right away. That’s service!
Back to the start and the Via Panoramica
After this route and quick bike fix, it’s time to head to Gradara and experience the start of the Giro U23. We visit the teams and get a taste of the excitement of the race right away, so for the first stage. After the peloton has left, we drive in a straight line to the coast to ride a section of the Via Panoramica It's a must for beautiful views, cliffs and vineyards. The villages like Fiorenzuola di Focara and Casteldimezzo are pure bliss. The beautiful old buildings and typical Italian atmosphere make you want to stay for an espresso and a good pasta. Cycling in Italy is wonderful, especially outside the summer rush.
Unfortunately, this time we have less time to immerse ourselves fully in the Italian culture. It’s straight on to the finish in Gabicce Monte at the eponymous shop Via Panoramica. We talk to the Brazilian owner Cecilia. She has lived in Italy for 20 years and organizes bike tours and holidays along the coast and other areas in the country. It’s still extraordinary how a Brazilian ends up here.
Bike hotels
That Italy is completely crazy about cycling is no longer a secret. Especially in Emilia-Romagna, where the local hero Pantani is still very much present even after his death. During our trip, we spend one night in the lovely bike hotel Lungo Mare. Here everything is designed for cyclists, with a storage room, a bike wash and a key corner. That way you’re ready to explore the region on the trail of Il Elefantino. Of course, with a nice doppio before you set off. Because if there’s one thing Italian, it’s the coffee culture. Italy has many more of these bike hotels. In our opinion, such a base camp is a good prerequisite for a successful cycling holiday.
Onward to the factory
Contrary to what one might think, press trips are hard work. Why? A region and its partners want to show everything they have to offer. Often this means long days on the road, combining cycling, food, culture, and mandatory visits. Especially in the southern countries, they like to work with the motto: 24 hours in a day and then we have the night. It would have sounded like music to artist manager Jaap Buijs.
Early on
So also on the Sunday of our trip, day 3. We get up early to visit the Wilier-Triestina factory and head office in the Veneto region. A wonderful insight into more than a century of cycling history. For a cycling fan like me, there are several beautiful bikes to discover. The bikes of Marco Pantani and the Unbound-winning mountain bike of Ivar Slik stand out head and shoulders above the rest. If you ever get the chance to take a look inside a factory, don’t miss it!
Cycling in Italy: Lake Garda
After a transfer to Arco, which is located north of Lake Garda, the bikes are back in action. For anyone familiar with the region, you know that cycling here is also beautiful. Soon we have to get to work on a climb of about six kilometers. The percentages were quite pleasant with such a steady climb of about 5 to 6%. A wonderful training climb to test and improve your climbing skills. From Alberto Neri I received the blessing to blast it solo and turn it around for some nice photos.
Onward to Pinzolo
We continue a little further towards Pinzolo (the finish of the Giro that day) and we pass by Lago di Tenno. I immediately get the urge to go on holiday there. What a beautiful lake with very little noticeable tourism. Maybe it’s due to the temperatures because the thermometer now shows 15 degrees Celsius. Wahoo about 34 degrees Celsius. Time for a short stop and a nice colada. Although: a short stop won’t be necessary. The Italians always take plenty of time for everything.
On top of the Passo Daone, you can take the last 25 km to Pinzolo via a cycling route along the water or via the national road. The cycling path winds left and right and often has no priority. SS239 has good asphalt and is the fastest option. By pedaling a little, we get within 10 minutes of the winner and fortunately we don’t have to transfer to another village. The well-deserved ice cream tastes great.
The last day
Race bike swapped for an e-MTB from Cicli Neri. Today the focus is on off-road driving. Dolomites After riding with the pros in the neutralization over the pavement, we head off-road. What a wonderful view and network of unpaved paths. Even without battery and motor, it’s easy for the trained cyclist. As often happens in the mountains, the weather suddenly changed and we got a heavy thunderstorm on our head. So we just hide in a cowshed. After the rain, we continue up towards Madonna di Campiglio. The planned route was closed for maintenance but with the help of Komoot we quickly created a new route. Fortunately, a restaurant opened in the luxurious ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio for some delicious panini. This is life.
Time to get back to it
As I already mentioned: a press trip is ultimately a lot of work in a short time. So really enjoying it isn’t quite possible because, due to the busy schedule, we have to leave again. While cycling in Italy may be a leisurely affair, when it comes down to it, things can get really busy. We descend in a brisk pace back to Pinzolo where the shower in the hotel awaits us. From here it’s a little over 3 hours to Milan for the return flight. This is a fitting way to end four beautiful days in Italy.
ExtraGiro 2022
Of ExtraGiro It’s actually a collection of races, with the Giro d’Italia being the highlight for riders under 23. In seven stages, these young riders ride across Italy. From Gradara to Argenta and then into the mountains. Beautiful routes to ride in Italy. Because first in the Dolomites, then towards Cuneo, where the spirits of both Bartali and Coppi were still present. It doesn’t get much more beautiful than that, right?
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.