This Collection presents the itinerary of Veneto Gravel, an acclaimed gravel riding event which attracts thousands of cyclists each year to explore the beautiful Italian region of Veneto.

The loop will lead you through numerous gems of this fascinating area: from the charming Lake Garda, through the renowned city of Verona, to the majestic mountains of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park. Departure is from Bassano del Grappa, an enchanting location in the north-eastern part of the Province of Vicenza, embracing the Venetian Prealps. This strategic location has excellent road and rail links, providing easy access and convenient car parking.

In this event, each participant is free to decide how to tackle the route. You can, of course, challenge yourself to complete the route in the shortest possible time. However, it’s possible to adapt the route to your needs, especially when considering terrain, weather conditions and unforeseen events along the way. The only constant is the route to be followed.

Truthfully, I only decided how to approach these rides at the last minute, letting my will guide me just before departure. At the same time, it’s the participants' right not to be judged: they can opt for a frenetic pace to test their bodies, or for a more leisurely approach, with picnic stops and breaks at accommodation and drinking fountains along the way. Freedom of expression on one's own bike is sacrosanct.

I approached the 714 kilometres (444 mi) and 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) of ascent on the route as a workout to test my physical and mental fitness, as well as the reliability of my equipment. After a busy week with limited rest, while I was sleeping in my van, I was woken up by a group of guys with their trap music and cigarette smoke, which contributed to my very little sleep.

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast at dawn and time to digest, I headed to my starting point. Meeting familiar faces and friends, we finally set off. The first part of the route proved to be surprisingly flat, and I realised how much I missed the feeling of the plains.

In this Collection, I’ve divided the route into five stages, following the approach of the majority of the participants, covering just over 100 kilometres (60 mi) per day with manageable gradients. I’ve also included the full route so that you can plan the journey to your requirements. After about 18 hours of cycling, I had covered almost 400 kilometres (250 mi), crossing embankments and numerous cycle paths. At that point, tiredness started to set in and I chose to inflate my sleeping pad and stuff myself into my bivy bag to rest for a few hours.

During your trip, you’ll find several specialised workshops offering technical support. These are the checkpoints, but you can also take advantage of them to buy spare parts that you might have forgotten.

Apart from a splendid dirt climb after 50 kilometres (30 mi), towards Santa Tecla, in the province of Vicenza, the ascent is mainly concentrated in the last 200 kilometres (120 mi). After so many hours on the flat, a whole day practically, I was excited to tackle a climb.

In Veneto, the passion for cycling is deeply rooted and it’s easy to see this when cycling along this route. On the second day, when I was exhausted, several local cyclists joined me, offering support to ease the fatigue in my legs.

I barely remember the last descents after Feltre as I tackled them under a torrential downpour and with enormous fatigue on my shoulders. However, I continued to ride on cycle paths and roads with little traffic.

Are you interested in reliving this route? Then get in the saddle and embark on an adventure in the beautiful Veneto region. Without a doubt, it’s ideal terrain for a gravel bike. I also noticed participants who tackled the route with road bikes, demonstrating how smooth and fast it was.

For more information visit: venetogravel.it/en.

Happy pedalling!